WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH PRIVATE COMPANY FOR JAIL MEDICAL SERVICES

  

Washington County Commissioners are proceeding with outsourcing medical services at the Washington County Jail to a private company.

At today’s (Tuesday) meeting, the court agreed to move forward with negotiating a contract with CorrHealth out of Dallas for services at the jail.  A contract with the agency will be brought back before commissioners at a future meeting.

Jail Captain Eric Hensley said CorrHealth was one of three vendors that responded to the county’s advertisement for requests for qualifications (RFQ) for jail medical services, which was approved by commissioners on June 8^th.  He said a committee made up of himself, Sheriff Otto Hanak, Lieutenant Marlow Lowery, and Commissioners Candice Bullock and Joy Fuchs met with each of the vendors, and decided unanimously to proceed with CorrHealth.

Bullock said these privatized services will afford the county additional supports and liability mitigation versus having a medical director at the jail.  She said the provider will have its own staffing recruiters and employees to fill in to address any staffing issues at the jail, and will also have its own legal team.  She believes this will provide a better level of care for inmates while also taking stress off of the Sheriff’s Office and commissioners.

Fuchs said legislators frequently increase jail regulations regarding prisoner intake and mental health services.  She said the legislature has more or less “forced” the county to this point, and that there are more jails going the route of privatized medical care than jails that are not.  County Judge John Durrenberger said this is a “much-needed improvement.”

In March 2020, the county appointed former Jail Medical Director Dr. Stuart Yoffe as the interim at the jail, after previous director Dr. Robert Stark was banned by Hanak.  This led to inmates having to be treated by Washington County EMS at the jail or transported to the emergency room at Baylor Scott and White in Brenham.

Commissioners said on June 8^th that once a contract is awarded, there is a tentative transition and services start date of July 14^th.

Also at today's meeting, commissioners approved an increase of $2 per hour in pay for several positions in the E911 department.  The raises for the emergency dispatch department pertain to operator trainees, telecommunications operators and shift supervisors.  Bullock said the county plans to present a salary package pertaining to all non-elected county employees at the court's meeting July 6^th.

Commissioners also;

• Presented service awards to county employees with 20 and 25 years of service.
• Approved a right of way parade permit for the Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce Independence Day Parade.
• Approved annual renewal of a service contract between the Sheriff's Office and Voice Products Service, LLC for the interview room.
• Approved renewal of interlocal agreements between the county and the Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG) for E911 public safety answering point services and database maintenance services.
• Approved a 60 day extension of 22.75 excess vacation hours for Officer Edward Ortega with the Sheriff's Office.
• Heard monthly reports from E911, the emergency management coordinator, county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor/collector, treasurer and constables.

Commissioners will not hold a meeting next Tuesday, June 29^th.  The court will be at a conference, so there will not be a quorum.