Inmate Overutilization of Health Care Is There a Way Out?

Abstract

Overutilization of health services is of concern to correctional administrators since it drives up health care costs unnecessarily. This study focuses on sick call utilization patterns at a single correctional facility in Florida. The presenting complaint and subsequent disposition of 133 nursing sick call visits and 122 physician clinic visits were examined. Analysis revealed that a substantial number of nursing referrals to physicians were unnecessary. Of the physician clinic visits, only about a third were judged by the physicians to be medically necessary. The remainder were generated by inmates’ desires to obtain prison "perks" or by system or institutional mandates. Suggestions are offered to reduce inmate utilization of sick call services for non-medical reasons.