EDITOR'S CORNER

If you've done it enough, inmate transport becomes pretty routine, right? Unfortunately, that kind of attitude can get someone hurt or, worse yet, killed. Despite standard operating procedure, every inmate transport should be treated with enormous caution.

According to Gene Nardi, a 17-year veteran of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, medical transport can be even more volatile because of various factors involved, from convincing doctors to move appointments to clearing the medical area of everyday citizens. In this regard, there can never be enough review of basic procedure, which is why Nardi lends his experience on handling medical transport for this month's Corrections Connection health focus.
Jim

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FEATURED STORY

Diligent medical security to save lives

By Gene Nardi

Avoiding the hazards of standard medical transport

When we read about a corrections officer gunned down while supervising an inmate who is receiving medical treatment, we try to analyze how that could have happened. Where is the breach of security when an inmate is taken to a hospital for medical treatment? What series of events occur before the officer is in the fight of their life?

The first thing to remember is when an inmate is taken outside of a secure facility; it is the weakest point of custody. Secondly, most hospital personnel consider anyone being admitted as a patient. While that may be the case, if the person is in law enforcement’s custody, they are still considered an inmate, and security should not be compromised. I have experienced different perceptions with medical staff when supervising an inmate admitted into a hospital.

The most important thing is preparation. It is the department’s responsibility to provide sound policies and procedures, along with specialized training, to prepare your staff that will be responsible for taking on these potentially life threatening tasks. More

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READER FEEDBACK

Regarding Leadership for the 21st century, A human approach

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Jason Heaton and Gene Atherton's 3-part series on leadership in the corrections environment. As an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University teaching Executive Leadership to physician executives, I know well the challenges of trying to synthesize large amounts of leadership theory and then summarize it into meaningful packets of information for an article or lecture. Heaton and Atherton have done a nice job doing just that.

Their series should be required reading for all leaders in the correctional environment, including health care unit leaders, (Site Medical Directors, Health Service Administrators and Directors of Nursing). Key concepts of leadership such as setting vision, ensuring meaningful accountability and establishing performance expectations so as to get the highest output of the teams we lead is essential in the corrections environment.

We must strive to become the best leaders we can be. I teach my students that leadership education is a never-ending process. We learn through formal study, mentoring and being mentored, as well as through the crucible of our experiences, both good and bad, successes and failures.

It is often said that leadership in the health care setting is of paramount importance because patients' lives are at stake as opposed to other fields of business. I would add, that in corrections, given security requirements, lives are also at stake if security leadership fails, so leadership in our environment is also of critical and paramount importance.

Therefore within our correctional institutions both health care leadership and security leadership should pursue ongoing and never-ending leadership development. Perhaps this article series is just the beginning of a continual focus on leadership for all leaders in corrections.
Thomas G. Lundquist, MD, MMM
Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, Wexford Health Sources

Have an opinion? Send them to editor@corrections.com.

LOOKING AHEAD

Developing Stories Upcoming stories on Corrections.com and the Corrections Connection ezine Eye on: A South Carolina Warden Breast Cancer Awareness Review of Dhamma Brothers film What would you like to read about?

Focus Issues 2007 November Legal roundup/review of current cases We are currently accepting articles. Click here to submit your article December The corrections impact on the community Submit an idea for a focus issue

CORRECTIONS.COM FEATURE STORIES

Prepare, and prepare early

Much like Louisiana, Florida serves as a pretty big bull’s-eye during hurricane season. The Sunshine State has 54 major correctional institutions and five private prisons that could potentially fall in the path of a major storm. More

Informed, safe and secure

We have all heard the stories about off-duty officers becoming involved in shootings. This will be more prevalent as our population increases. It doesn't matter if your jail houses 2 or 20,000. More

The Way Back Home: The transition factor

I have been in and out of prisons for more than 15 years of my adult life. From minimum institutions, to super-max institutions. Yes, I have done them all, from being face-to-face with shoplifters to murderers. Yet, I’ve never had to worry about “transitioning” into the community, until one of those fateful days, when a prominent member of the community saw me leaving a “halfway house” and refused to acknowledge my presence. More

BUSINESS NEWS

Allen County Sheriff's Dept. signs 5-year phone contract with PCS

Public Communications Services, Inc. (PCS) a leading provider of inmate communications services to the corrections industry, is pleased to announce that Allen County, Fort Wayne Indiana Sheriff's Department has signed a 5-year contract with PCS for their inmate telephone services. More

Syscon Presents Prison Gangs’ Management Solution To National Major Gangs Task Force

Syscon Justice Systems, the world’s leader in offender management systems, announced today that it will officially launch its new Security Threat Groups (TAG STG) application during a luncheon speech and presentation More

DuPont Personal Protection Introduces Tychem® QC for Corrections

DuPont, the maker of Kevlar® and a leader in protective apparel for nearly 40 years, has introduced a new garment for corrections officers, DuPont™ Tychem® QC for Corrections. More

CAREER WATCH

RIDOC minimum security captain named Twenty-year Rhode Island Department of Corrections veteran, Michael Martufi, has been promoted to Captain of the RIDOC’s minimum security facility. Martufi began his career in 1987 when he became a CO at the maximum security facility... Read more

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EVENTS

Collaborating for Community Justice: A Local Public Safety Imperative

Date: 10/28 - 10/31/07
ICCA’s conference in San Diego this year will highlight collaboration among criminal justice stakeholders, feature the latest research from speakers, and offer 26 diverse demonstration workshops of evidence-based best practices at work in community corrections. More

Film: The Dhamma Brothers

Date: 10/28/07
New England Film Artists Present The Dhamma Brothers, 6 pm at the Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. A dramatic tale of human potential and transformation, the film documents the stories of thirty-six Alabama inmates who enter an arduous and intensive course of silent meditation lasting ten days. More

True Lies: Detecting Deception

Date: 11/15/07
This course is designed to help you understand the world of deception. We give you insight to uncover truths or lies during your interviews and casual conversations. More

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered."
- Nelson Mandela, S. African black civil rights leader

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