Posts tagged “physician assistant”

Approximately 1.8 million Americans are incarcerated in state and federal prisons. Based on the communal nature of the prison system, specific medical needs are created. Today, there is an increased demand for physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses specialized in correctional healthcare.

History of correctional healthcare

Correctional healthcare did not exist until 1770 and was invented in England by a wealthy philanthropic healthcare former by the name of John Howard and physician John Fothergill. Louise Rene-Villerme a physician and pioneering hygienist published a study titled Des Prisons in 1820, further overhauling the public health concerns in prisons.

According to the CDC the most common healthcare problems reported by prison inmates include:

Infectious disease

• Hepatitis
• HIV/ Aids
• MRSA
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Tuberculosis

Chronic Diseases

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Heart Disease

Learning disabilities and mental health

The most common impaired functioning that jail inmates report is a learning impairment such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder. Many inmates also report having been enrolled in special education classes during their youth. Approximately 8 percent of inmates state they suffered from mental health condition that kept them from fully participating in school, work, or other activities.

Pregnancy in incarcerated women

Approximately 3 to 5 percent of incarcerated women are reported to be pregnant when they go into a correctional system. Pregnancies of incarcerated women are usually high risk due to poor nutrition, limited accesses to prenatal care, domestic violence, mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction.

Transgender healthcare

During incarceration, transgender people may face a multitude of problems that may endanger their health and wellbeing. Correctional healthcare professionals must pay special attention to evaluation, screening, referral, and management of mental healthcare needs. Particular attention must be given to hormonal treatments for gender dysphoria and should follow accepted guidelines developed by professionals with specialized in transgender health.

Special attention must be paid to transgender youth who enter into the corrections system. Mental health professionals experienced in working with transgender adolescents  must review the youths current clinical stability, mental health functioning , and possible need for added mental health therapy and intervention.

Overall decreased life expectancy

For every year a person spends in the correctional system, 2 years is taken off of their lives.  With 1.8 million people locked up, mass incarceration has lowered the life expectancy of a significant portion of the human population in the United States.

Healthcare staff within the correctional system:

Physicians: a physicians role in corrections is primary care that can reach highly intensive levels. Physicians medical practice roles include internal medicine, preventative care, urgent care, emergency care, routine patient care, basic orthopedics, dermatology, minor office procedures, chronic care and end of life care. Some patient may need to be transported off site for tests, medical procedures and consultations.

According to the American College of Correctional Physicians, a physician working in corrections must be aware of and balance interests of; good solid medical practice, medical supervision, implementation of process, medical board rules, the safety and security of the facility, the individuals in the facility, and the community. A few examples of medical-custody coordination are:

• Timely access to medical
• Timely treatments and
• Medical training and supervision

Nurse Practitioners: can provide care to adolescent patients to geriatric patients within the correctional healthcare system. Nurse practitioners practice within their scope and can perform physical exams, health screenings, medication management, sick calls and pregnancy and post-partum care. Correctional NP’s are positive advocates for patients and provide education to correctional administrators, judges, caseworkers and correctional staff.

Nurses: provide direct patient care to inmates in jails and prisons. Nurses treat patients in the correctional system for a variety of ailments including emergency medical conditions, acute illness, as well as chronic medical conditions.

Correctional healthcare staff may also be involved in hunger strikes, isolation, sexual abuse, transgender, elderly release pleas, compassionate release pleas and long term involuntary psychotropic medications. All incarcerated people within the correctional system must be treated with fairness and receive comprehensive healthcare. It is the responsibility of correctional healthcare team to advocate for the healthcare needs of these individuals.

Curious about a career in Corrections Health? Try out a Locum Tenens assignment with Medcare Staffing

Medcare staffing has a variety of locum tenen assignments in corrections for physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses in a variety of different states. Click here to find out more information and speak to a recruiter today.

It’s National PA week, and if you are a PA, MedCare Staffing would like to celebrate you! National PA Week is celebrated every year from October 6th-12th and is a time to recognize and celebrate the PA profession and its contributions to the nation’s healthcare. During PA Week, consider talking with a PA about what it is they do or visit The American Academy of PAs website to learn more about this fast-growing profession.

We know that not everyone has been treated by a PA, but there is a chance that you will be at some point in your life. In a primary care setting, PAs have been handling outpatient visits in an increasing number, increasing from 10% of visits to 15% from 200-2008, according to the AMA Journal of Ethics. With more than 123,000 PAs working across the country—according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession is expected to grow 31 percent between 2018 and 2028. This growth in the business helps to add incredible talent to our healthcare system and provide a unique experience for patients.

As a PA, you’ve followed your passion for helping others, improving care, and changing lives. If you are working as a locum tenens PA, you’re helping fill a critical need across the country—giving healthcare teams the support and relief where they need it the most and helping to create meaningful connections with patients along the way. Thank you for choosing this career, for your commitment to your practice and for the positive impact you have on patients’ lives!

If you’re a PA, thank you! We’re honored to partner with numerous locum tenens PAs with assignments every year and are inspired by the stories we gather from PAs, making a difference in the community. And lastly, we’re proud of the work we do to find matches between quality healthcare organizations and locum tenens PAs. It’s our job to give hospitals, clinics, labs, and other facilities the tools they need to care for communities—and help you reap the rewards of satisfying, flexible locum tenens work.

From everyone at MedCare Staffing to all the PAs across the country, THANK YOU. Happy National PA Week!

Who are we? MedCare Staffing is a small, veteran-owned, family-oriented team. We start every day with gratitude because we LOVE what we do! We are a team on a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of our clients and providers.

What we do: We place Physicians & Advanced Practitioners in Locum Tenens, Contract Positions and Permanent Jobs

To contact MedCare Staffing call 888.474.3380 or visit or website by clicking here!

Some full-time physicians and advanced practitioners have said no to locums because they feel they do not have the time. Some are concerned that it would interfere with their current job and we understand. Working locums does not mean its a second-job but more like a supplemental opportunity. Whether wanting to earn a little extra cash or exploring a new location, locums work has a lot to offer. There are unique benefits to consider when thinking of this as an option.

You Get To Choose When and Where

With the demand for locums skyrocketing, the control is yours. Assignments vary from a few shifts a week, to a few a month with short and long term assignment as well. With MedCare Staffing, we will partner with you while doing our best to find the perfect match.

It’s A Great Way To Make Extra Income

Are you a new graduate with student debt? According to an article posted in December 2018, the class of 2018 medical school students graduated with $196,520 in student loans. Also, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, seventy-five percent of medical school students in the class of 2018 graduated with student debt. Consider picking up locum tenens assignments and begin chipping away at this financial debt.

Unexpected Benefits of Locum Tenens

Working locum tenens can add to your repertoire of skills and experiences. When a medical provider travels outside of the network that they work in, they suddenly become exposed to various methods of doing things and unique nuances of different practices. And not to mention the cultural differences if one travels a long distance for locum tenens work.

As you can see, there are a few reasons to consider locums even with a full-time position. MedCare Staffing would love the opportunity to share more so feel free to contact us us at 888-474-3380 and let’s begin the conversation!

Who are we? MedCare Staffing is a small, Veteran-owned, family-oriented team; we start every day with gratitude because we LOVE what we do! We are a team on a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of our clients and providers.
What we do. We place Physicians & Advanced Practitioners in Locum Tenens, Contract Positions and Permanent Jobs.