Collaborative Healthcare in Incarcerated Settings

• Published date: 01 July 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X211058952
• Author: Eman Tadros,Melanie Barbini,Lovdeep Kaur
• Date: 01 July 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X211058952

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2023, Vol. 67(9) 910 –929

© The Author(s) 2021

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/0306624X211058952

journals.sagepub.com/home/ijo

Article

Collaborative Healthcare in

Incarcerated Settings

Eman Tadros1, Melanie Barbini2,

and Lovdeep Kaur3

Abstract

A total of 2,162,400 adults were incarcerated in the United States in 2016. Sub-optimal

health status, existing healthcare disparities, and fragmented healthcare delivery

among incarcerated populations are concerning and warrant redress. This article

highlights the need for and discusses the benefits of collaboration between healthcare

professionals in incarcerated settings. The roles of primary care health professionals,

pharmacists, and medical family therapists (MedFTs) in correctional facilities are

outlined. Through integrated healthcare models, enhanced communication, improved

continuity of care, and holistic treatment plans, existing gaps in healthcare delivery in

correctional facilities can be filled. By working together and assuming nontraditional

roles, medical professionals can help improve health outcomes of incarcerated

individuals. Collaborative healthcare models in incarcerated settings can elevate

public health in a cost-effective, yet positive manner.

Keywords

incarceration, healthcare, interprofessional collaboration, pharmacists, marriage and

family therapists

Incarceration

By the end of 2016, there was a total of 2,162,400 adults incarcerated in the United

States (U.S.) across various facilities (Kaeble & Cowhig, 2018). Within the correc-

tional system, adults can be supervised in the community (e.g., on probation or on

1Governors State University, University Park, IL, USA

2Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

3NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System Inc, USA

Corresponding Author:

Eman Tadros, Governors State University, 1 University Pkwy, University Park, IL 60466, USA.

Email: emantadros@gmail.com

1058952IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X211058952International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyTadros et al.

research-article2021

Tadros et al. 911

parole) or incarcerated in local jails and state or federal prisons (Freudenberg, 2001;

Kaeble & Cowhig, 2018; Yi et al., 2017). Depending on the type and length of stay in

a facility, incarcerated individuals can experience a variety of treatments and condi-

tions. The limited resources can adversely impact mental and physical health (Yi et al.,

2017). Collectively, incarcerated populations have a higher rate of mental health dis-

orders than the general community (Yi et al., 2017). Incarcerated individuals, their

families, and their communities are negatively impacted in both direct and indirect

ways by incarceration (Freudenberg, 2001; Vogel & Porter, 2016; Yi et al., 2017).

Incarcerated individuals struggling with unmanaged mental and physical ailments

who experience breaks in healthcare continuity upon release may engage in greater

substance use, be at increased risk for overdose, may return to recidivism due to lack

of housing and employment, etc. This can negatively impact the community at large

(Freudenberg, 2001; Wildeman & Wang, 2017).

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Incarcerated Settings

Even though African American and Latinx individuals make up only 30% of the U.S.

population, they constitute 56% of incarcerated populations (Vogel & Porter, 2016).

African American males are incarcerated almost seven times more frequently than

White males; Latinx males are incarcerated nearly three times as often as White males

(Vogel & Porter, 2016). Incarcerated settings are largely populated by urban popula-

tions; urban settings are more frequently populated by individuals of a lower socioeco-

nomic status (SES) and people of color (Freudenberg, 2001). Incarcerated individuals

are in worse health than their noninstitutionalized counterparts and have a higher

prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, heart problems, asthma, kidney problems,

stroke, arthritis, and STIs (Nowotny et al., 2017). These differences are larger for

Caucasians than African Americans, especially among women (Nowotny et al., 2017).

Interestingly, incarcerated White males have higher mortality rates than their nonin-

carcerated counterparts, but, incarcerated Black males have lower mortality rates than

Black males outside of jails and prisons (Nowotny et al., 2017).

Nowotny et al. (2017) discussed that race disparities are somewhat muted in pris-

ons than in the general public. The difference between prevalence of renal disease,

stroke, and arthritis in incarcerated Black versus White males were found to be lower

than that between Black and White men in the community at large. This holds true for

Black-White disparities for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, renal disease, and

stroke among women. Conversely, Black-White male disparities are larger in prisons

for obesity and STIs. Also, racial disparities for obesity prevalence are higher for

incarcerated women. These racial disparities should be noted in the care of incarcer-

ated populations (Nowotny et al., 2017).

Mental Health Disparities in Incarcerated Settings

More than half of all incarcerated individuals have a mental health problem, including

64% of jail, 56% of state, and 45% of federal incarcerated individuals (James & Glaze,