Correctional Nurse . Net

Lorry Schoenly, PhD, RN, CCHP

Dealing with Inmate Food Allergies

Food allergies can be a real challenge for correctional nurses. It is important to document these allergies during intake screenings and put safeguards in place to avoid allergic reactions behind bars. However, inmates can report food allergies that are really preferences (I’m allergic to bologna sandwiches) or food intolerances (I’m allergic to onions). How can true allergies be sorted out from among the many reported?

I recently interviewed Dr. Jeff Keller, correctional physician from Idaho Falls, ID, about the issue on the Correctional Nursing Today Radio Show. This episode is full of interesting and important information for correctional nurses. I highly recommend you download or livestream the 30 minute program. Here are some important points from my notes of the session.

  • There are IgE mediated and non-IgE mediated allergic reactions. The medical concern is with IgE mediated allergies, which involve immune system mast cells that respond violently to contact with the allergen. Check out this animation to remind you of the IgE allergic reaction process.
  • Peanuts make up 85% of food allergies. The remaining 15% are from tree nuts and shellfish. Other food allergies such as fin fish or strawberries are rare.
  • Almost all food allergy deaths happen to teenagers and those in their early 20’s.
  • Allergic reactions include hives, angioedema and asthma/wheezing.
  • Ways to test for true allergy include a food confrontation test and skin prick testing. There is also a fairly inexpensive blood test for IgE circulating levels.
  • Epinephrine is the main treatment for a life-threatening food allergic reaction.

Managing Food Allergies Behind Bars

If an inmate is determined to have a peanut allergy, a peanut-free diet is needed. However, precautions do not end here. Cellmate assignment and work detail must also be considered. This inmate may not be able to be housed with other inmates who have peanut products in their possession. For example, peanut butter and peanut butter products such as sandwich crackers may be available in the commissary. A peanut-allergic inmate may not be able to be assigned kitchen duty if peanut products are present. Shellfish and tree nuts are fairly easy to deal with as pecan-crusted shrimp are rarely on the menu. However, peanut butter is an inexpensive protein source in frequent use in corrections.

Preparing for an Allergic Reaction

A coordinated response to food allergies is needed in every facility. Dr. Keller recommended a protocol be developed addressing actions custody and medical staff will take to respond to true food allergies. Besides diet, housing and work detail issues, a coordinated emergency response to a reaction is needed. Epi pens are the standard mechanism for emergency treatment of an allergic reaction. Inmates are not able to carry needles on their person so the location and accountability for epi pens should be considered. Housing officers may need to have pens available and know how to use them. Correctional nurses may need to provide information and demonstration of epi-pen use. Officers are also likely to be the first responders in an allergy emergency. They need to know the signs of allergic reaction so that they can act quickly to summon assistance and administer epinephrine.

How has your facility dealt with food allergies? Tell us your experiences using the comments section.

 

Photo Credit: © Jaimie Duplass – Fotolia.com

January 8, 2012 Posted by | Inmate Issues, Nursing Practice, Systems Issues | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

4 Correctional Healthcare Game Changers from 2011

This post originally appeared on CorrectionsOne.com

Another year is about to roll up and we can look back on plenty of correctional healthcare news from 2011. What top stories from the past year are most memorable to you? Here are my top picks for 2011 game changers along with suggested action to reduce their impact.

#1 Legal eagles rule the roost
Healthcare is now the most common legal issue raised by inmates according to a Harvard Civil Liberties Law Review article. The legal system has led the way in correctional healthcare reform even before the landmark Estelle v. Gamble Supreme Court case of 1976. In that case, the Supremes ruled that healthcare was a prisoner’s Eighth Amendment right. Continued case law has further delineated that right. Lack of healthcare, inadequate healthcare, faulty or denied healthcare are frequent claims of inmate defendants. Not only are the costs of healthcare skyrocketing, so are the costs of medical liability insurance. The financial burden of defending against spurious and serious claims is high.

Game changer actions: Do everything you can to strengthen the healthcare delivery system to reduce serious medical claims. This means solid communication and tracking of outside services and diagnostics. In addition, monitor medication delivery and formulary practices. Medication administration is a high risk and problem-prone area of correctional healthcare.

Consider implementing basic customer service principles to reduce spurious legal claims. Closely monitor inmate grievances in this sector. Early intervention can stem later legal cases. Remember, even if a claim is invalidated, legal costs can still be incurred in developing a defense.

#2 Cost shifting along the corrections pipeline
Although California is the state prison system most in the news about overcrowding, other states are looking for ways to reduce incarceration costs by shifting custody responsibilities to local jurisdictions or mental health services. From a medical perspective, there are renewed calls for improved compassionate release processes.

Game changer actions: Appropriate early release of severely ill and dying prisoners can reduce prison health care costs but burden other systems such as long term care and indigent care services. A practical review of current compassionate release policies and procedures is warrented.

Read the rest of this list on correctionsone.com

 

Photo Credit: © Arcady – Fotolia.com

December 30, 2011 Posted by | Systems Issues | , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Collaboration with Security Staff

My friend, Sue Smith, MSN, RN, CCHP-RN, spent many years providing nursing care in the Ohio Prison System. Her guest post shares words of wisdom from her work experience.

 

 

Maintaining a safe and secure environment is the primary mission of correctional facilities – not healthcare.  This means that the persons who hold nearly all of the power in correctional facilities are the security officers and administrators.  Practicing within the correctional environment means that correctional nurses must learn to cooperate and collaborate with the security staff.  Philosophical differences between the two disciplines can be very significant, especially with regard to treatment of prisoners.  One of the most difficult adjustments that correctional nurses must make is learning to   work with security staff without sacrificing nursing perspective.  Making the adjustment is often difficult, but it can be done.  Correctional nurses need to remember a few things:

  • Security personnel are like most people – they have preconceived notions about how nurses behave and think.  Sometimes, correctional staff can be critical of nursing concepts like compassion and patient advocacy, but they still do not like it when nurses do not act as expected.  Role modeling expected nurse behavior may invite some teasing, but generally the security staff will have greater respect for the nurses.
  • Mutual respect will go a long way to facilitate collaboration with security staff.  Correctional officers and administrators have a hard job.  Correctional nurses need to recognize this and refrain from being overly critical or judgmental about security perspectives about prisoners – without sacrificing their nursing perspective.  Simply put – the words “please” and “thank you”, professional courtesy and consideration will help nurses collaborate with their security colleagues.
  • Nurses need to remember that the correctional environment is different than the hospital environment and can be inherently dangerous.  While correctional nurses are not really security staff, they do need to remember and be concerned with safety principles so that they do not place themselves and their security colleagues in unnecessary danger.

What are your experiences with collaboration with our correctional officer colleagues? Share your insights in the comments section of this post.

Photo Credit: © AKS – Fotolia.com

July 19, 2011 Posted by | Nursing Practice, Systems Issues | , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Improve Health Care to Save Money? Who Knew?

Attending the Association of Health Care Journalists Conference this week has given many opportunities to consider the application of current health issues and trends to the correctional setting. A discussion of the Affordable Care Act by CMS Director Donald Berwick, MD, in a Newsmaker Briefing does not at first sound like something easily applied to health care in jails and prisons. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers Medicare payments,  a payment structure applying to only a small part of healthcare costs in correctional settings. However, his discussion of reducing health care costs could have some application. He stated that our opportunity is to lower cost by improving the care; that the best way to make the care more affordable and sustainable is to improve it. A bit counterintuitive, as first blush, but he goes further. Using the example of technology, Dr. Berwick reminds us that improvements in computers and smart phones came from learning how to make them differently such as using lean production methods. He suggests that these methods can be applied to health care. To apply these principles in healthcare we have to execute properly, which includes removing waste from processes and defects from care. He contends that there are two ways to save money – cut or improve. A lot of talk today is about cutting but Dr. Berwick suggests improvement is a better way.

Can this concept be applied to correctional healthcare? Can we see cost savings by improving the care delivered or the care delivery system? It is an intriguing concept to consider. Generally the thought is that it costs money to improve care. Could it save money? What do you think?

Photo Credit: ©sellingpix fotolia

April 15, 2011 Posted by | Systems Issues | , , , , , , | 1 Comment