Rebuilding Lives. Strengthening Communities.

Develop information-sharing programs to streamline portability of
records both into and out of prison.
Recommendation
Issue
MAYORAL POLICY CAUCUS ON PRISONER REENTRY
52
Even for the few released prisoners who are referred to
community health providers, a lack of transferable medical
records—showing what assessments and treatments
individuals received before and during their incarceration
—impede effective continuity of care. There is no system
in place to ensure portable records flow into and out of the
prison system.
Prisoners often enter prison with sparse information, if
any, regarding their medical history. The Illinois
Department of Corrections (IDOC) must make a separate
request for each individual record from the state public
health office—a very labor intensive process which is not
used consistently. 46
By law, Cook County Jail is supposed to provide prisoner
files to IDOC upon transfer of prisoners. 47 The assessments
are paper records that must be collected, copied
and physically transferred when a prisoner leaves the jail.
Unfortunately, Cook County Jail lacks the personnel to
adequately accomplish this task. At the same time, IDOC
also lacks sufficient staff to review and manage all files
transferred from the jail.
Moreover, prisoners do not leave prison with any medical
records to promote continuity of care after their release.
Community-based agencies, then, typically must conduct
their own initial health assessments, often lacking critical
pieces of information about individuals’ prior care and
duplicating time, effort and resources. 48
“For many people, Cook County Jail is
the only place they receive primary
health care, and may be the only time
they receive PAP tests, screening for
sexually transmitted diseases or
vaccinations. Because they are so
disenfranchised, once they leave the
institution, their ability to integrate
themselves into structured primary
health care delivery systems is compromised.
Health care information
management technology is one of the
most important challenges for the future
of health care in this country.
Portability of medical records provides
one avenue for individuals to receive
continuity of care once they are released.
However, with more than 300 new
admissions to Cook County Jail each
day, the current paper-based system
presents logistical challenges that are
insurmountable.”
Dr. Sergio Rodriguez
Director, Cermak Health Services’ Medical Division,
Cook County Jail