Officials from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and North Oakland Medical Centers publicly announced Tuesday the creation of a new secure hospital unit to provide health care to jail inmates.
Officials say the unit will result in better patient care while saving the Sheriff’s Office — and ultimately taxpayers — money.
“We’re excited about it,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.
The 11-bed unit has video monitors in every room, a secure phone system and controlled access. Sheriff’s Office deputies and members of the hospital security staff will monitor it.
When inmates required hospitalization in the past, two deputies usually would accompany them to the hospital. The Sheriff’s Office spent $1.6 million in 2006 on overtime for deputies on hospital watches.
While deputies still will be present at the new unit, officials say fewer of them will be needed because the care is centralized, resulting in cost savings. Bouchard said the new unit is expected to save $300,000 in its first year.
Inmates previously were put in whichever room was available, so they were scattered throughout the hospital. Officials say the new unit allows inmates to be better separated from the rest of the hospital’s population.
The unit is in a section that housed an inpatient pediatrics unit that has been vacated.
The Sheriff’s Office contributed about $102,000 toward the capital costs associated with getting the new unit ready. The hospital chipped in about $20,000.
North Oakland Medical Centers has provided care for Oakland County Jail inmates since 1999.
Bouchard said he was looking for a more cost-effective method of providing health care to inmates and sought bids from various hospitals before deciding to go with North Oakland Medical Centers.
He said the unit is the state’s first secure hospital ward for county inmates.
The new unit is expected to be up and running Tuesday. (May 15)
