Shasta County Jail to Enhance Inmate Healthcare with Mediko Partnership
The Shasta County Board of Supervisors has approved a new contract with Mediko Correctional Healthcare to provide comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health services at the Shasta County Jail. The $8.1 million agreement, approved on March 10, aims to improve the quality of care for incarcerated individuals and address recent concerns regarding inmate health, and safety.
Addressing Recent Concerns and Increasing Staffing
The decision to partner with Mediko comes after a period of scrutiny following several recent deaths at the Shasta County Jail MSN. The new contract prioritizes a significant expansion of healthcare staffing, with Mediko planning to hire ten additional full-time nursing and support positions. These positions will be filled by locally sourced nurses, contributing to the local economy.
Comprehensive Healthcare Services
Under the terms of the agreement, Mediko will deliver a full spectrum of healthcare services, including medical, dental, and behavioral health care. A key focus will be on improving patient experiences, ensuring continuity of care, and maintaining compliance with national correctional healthcare standards Action News Now. Mediko will also establish a structured hospital partnership with community hospitals to improve emergency care coordination.
Sheriff and Mediko Leadership Respond
Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership, stating his hope that it will be a “gamechanger for the county as far as liability and for service for our inmates in the jail” Action News Now. Kaven Ofogh, founder and CEO of Mediko, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing inmates with a standard of care equivalent to that received by individuals in the general population. “I really believe inmates are entitled to receive same level of standard of care compared to the people who are not incarcerated in the free world medicine,” Ofogh said Action News Now.
Collaboration and Implementation
Mediko will perform closely with the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, County Administrative Office, and local healthcare partners to ensure the successful implementation of the program. The company anticipates beginning medical services at the Shasta County Jail in June. The contract will run through 2029, with the option for two one-year extensions.