ORDER NO. 30803
KERR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE JAIL PERSONNEL FOR INMATE
MEDICAL
Came to be heard this the 14th day of April, 2008, with a motion made by
Commissioner Letz, seconded by Commissioner Baldwin. The Court unanimously
approved by vote of 4-0-0 to:
Authorize the Sheriff to hire three (3) medical personnel at a grade/step 22.1 for an
LVN or a grade/step 20.1 for an EMT, and the funds to come from the current
salary line item in the budget.
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COMIVIISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND TEN COPIES OF THIS REQUEST
AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT.
MADE BY: W.R. Hierholzer OFFICE: Kerr County Sheriff s Office
MEETING DATE: April 14, 2008 TIME PREFERRED:
SUBJECT:
Consider, discuss and take appropriate action concerning Kerr County Sheriffs Office jail personnel in
regards to inmate medical.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON) Personnel Issue
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: SheriffHierholzer
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: 5 minutes
IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and
552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday.
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON:
All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been
prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will be
appreciated and contribute towards your request being addressed at the eazliest opportunity. See Agenda Request
Rules Adopted by Commissioners' Court.
April 14, 2008
TO: Kerr County Judge Pat Tinley and
Kerr County Commissioners' Court
FROM: Sheriff W.R. Hierholzer
RE: Personnel Issue
Consider, discuss and take appropriate action concerning Kerr County
Sheriff s Office jail personnel in regazds to inmate medical.
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The medication list dated 3/28/2008 represents these averages:
151 Inmates currently in our facility as of this date;
54 Inmates currently on prescription medications which means that over 1
out every 3 inmates is on prescription medications.
274 medications were passed out on this day alone, not including any over
the counter medications; which translates to about 350-400 medication
passed daily.
34 psychotropic medications found on the medication cart.
680 different medications were logged into the computer from 1/1/08 to
present; this does not include meds brought in with the inmate or that family
members might bring in for them.
173 T.B. tests given from 1 / 1 /08 to present.
1825 Average number of sick call and medical request received a year.
7 diabetics currently incarcerated in the facility, which have to have blood
glucose test 1 to 4 times daily. 3 diabetics are currently on insulin at least
twice a day.
2- 7 Inmates on any given day have doctor orders to keep blood pressure
readings charted 1 to 4 times a days.
120 inmates were seen by Doctor Parvin in the months of February and
March. That's an average of 15 Inmates per visit. These inmates have to be
triaged which means all vitals must be taken before the Doctor sees them,
which can be very time consuming.
84 Inmates were transported to outside medical or dentist offices in the
month of March. Average of 3.25 transports a day in the month of
March. The Medical Staff has been trying to help with making some the
transports themselves; however this makes staying on schedule almost
impossible.
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These figures do not include the Inmates that come into our facility
completely out of their medications or do not have their medications with
them. Some of these medications are vital health maintenance medications
that have to be given to the inmate expeditiously. We can sometimes spend
hours calling medical facilities across the state and country trying to find the
prescribing doctors to receive orders, so their medications can be obtained
before our pharmacy closes.
There is also the task of ordering all the medications and supplies to
keep the medical department operational, which means inventorying the
medications carts and supply cabinets on a daily basis, which is very
important as well as very time consuming.
Even with the normal medication runs (made four times a day), T.B.
test that are mandated by the state within seven days from the time of
incarceration, setting up the transports to other medical offices, reports,
paper work, consults with outside doctors and hospitals, and calling and
dealing with MHMR and their incarcerated clients, all of this still does not
account for the acute illness and injuries that occur on a daily basis at the jail
for inmates and staff.
We have two medical personnel and a clerical clerk that manages this
medical office on a daily basis that is sometimes overwhelming them to the
point that overtime is being used to finish med runs, reports and paperwork.
These are still required to be completed in order to finish and maintain
proper standard of care for the medical needs of the inmates.