Healthcare Hurdles: The Evolving Needs of Incarcerated Individuals at #MACoCon

Detention centers fulfill a unique role in the public safety sphere as the rehabilitative arm in the process. As facilities that manage the care and custody of individuals all hours of every day, they are required to also deliver healthcare services for a range of physical, mental, and behavioral health needs.

Detention centers historically have housed populations with a high incidence of behavioral health needs, including substance use disorders. The demand for these services has increased substantially with the onset of the opioid crisis and the surge in demand for mental healthcare services broadly. Modernizing wellness and trauma response services for these individuals has the potential to set returning citizens up for success and reduce recidivism. This MACo Winter Conference panel will consider the evolving needs of these populations and some strategies for improving outcomes.

Title: Healthcare Hurdles: The Evolving Needs of Incarcerated Individuals
Description: Health service teams caring for incarcerated patients face stark challenges in the field. With limited resources in demanding and highly restrictive environments, care teams make the best of their circumstances while treating one of the most vulnerable populations in the state. As the opioid crisis continues to evolve and behavioral and mental health needs soar, detention centers need to be able to rely on a system of support beyond their walls. Join this panel of experts to discuss how the needs of these populations have evolved, what detention centers are doing to adjust, and where other agencies can step in to help.

Speakers:

  • Dr. Stephen Murphy – Division Chief, Medical and Behavioral Health Services, Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
  • Jennifer Mroz – Vice President of Clinical Operations, PrimeCare Medical Inc.
  • Dr. Laura Hererra Scott – Secretary of Health, Maryland Department of Health
  • Dr. Oscar Jerkins – Chief Medical Director, Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services, Office of Clinical Services

Moderator: The Honorable Cory McCray, Maryland State Senate
Date/Time: Thursday, December 12, 2024; 1:30 pm -2:30 pm

MACo’s Winter Conference, “Anticipate, Adapt, Achieve: Thriving Through Turbulent Times,” will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD, on December 11-13, 2024. 

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference: