ISCC PRISONERS TOLD TO SUFFER THROUGH COVID-19 SYMPTOMS - FEAR RETALIATION FOR REPORTING
Although the IDOC and healthcare provider Corizon have encouraged prisoners to report any of the combination of symptoms related to the Coronavirus, prisoners are also being told that to do so will result not only in their being locked down, but that the entire tier in which they are housed will suffer the same consequence.
At the sick call window, a prisoner recently reported to medical staff that he had a dry cough, a fever and aching in his joints. The nurse on duty advised the prisoner that he was likely suffering from allergies, and that he should sleep in a different position to alleviate his soreness. When the prisoner insisted that his symptoms were more aligned with COVID-19 than with any allergy, he was advised that he should "self-isolate" (which is impossible in the general population prison setting) for 2 weeks then come back if his symptoms persisted.
When the prisoners (who presumably were housed on the same tier) behind the sick man heard what was going on, they began "advising" him not to push the matter because they themselves would also be locked down (isolated from the rest of the general population - which is true), and that he would thereafter suffer extreme consequences for his reporting.
Although the prisoner may have received a generic cough suppressant from medical staff had he continued with his complaints, he would most certainly have received something far worse had he been the cause of an entire tier of nearly 90 other prisoners being locked down for several days - something that a cough suppressant could not help. Despite HIPAA regulations to the contrary, ISCC medical staff continue to pass medications, discuss private and often sensitive medical issues in the presence of other prisoners and allow security staff to view computer screens where medical records are displayed. These violations occur at least three (3) times a day - every day - without ramification or recourse. Complain and you're turned away, or worse.
ISCC needs to get their medical staff and their medical scheduling and records security under control - but it looks as if it will take a major incident or a financially devastating lawsuit for that to motivate Corizon Health to rethink their model of prisoner medical care.
At the sick call window, a prisoner recently reported to medical staff that he had a dry cough, a fever and aching in his joints. The nurse on duty advised the prisoner that he was likely suffering from allergies, and that he should sleep in a different position to alleviate his soreness. When the prisoner insisted that his symptoms were more aligned with COVID-19 than with any allergy, he was advised that he should "self-isolate" (which is impossible in the general population prison setting) for 2 weeks then come back if his symptoms persisted.
When the prisoners (who presumably were housed on the same tier) behind the sick man heard what was going on, they began "advising" him not to push the matter because they themselves would also be locked down (isolated from the rest of the general population - which is true), and that he would thereafter suffer extreme consequences for his reporting.
Although the prisoner may have received a generic cough suppressant from medical staff had he continued with his complaints, he would most certainly have received something far worse had he been the cause of an entire tier of nearly 90 other prisoners being locked down for several days - something that a cough suppressant could not help. Despite HIPAA regulations to the contrary, ISCC medical staff continue to pass medications, discuss private and often sensitive medical issues in the presence of other prisoners and allow security staff to view computer screens where medical records are displayed. These violations occur at least three (3) times a day - every day - without ramification or recourse. Complain and you're turned away, or worse.
ISCC needs to get their medical staff and their medical scheduling and records security under control - but it looks as if it will take a major incident or a financially devastating lawsuit for that to motivate Corizon Health to rethink their model of prisoner medical care.