Oregon DOC outlines health services overhaul, contracts Falcon for statewide review

The Oregon Department of Corrections on April 17 presented a multi-pronged plan to improve health care for adults in custody, including leadership changes, a contracted outside review, policy changes to speed specialty referrals and a planned electronic health record rollout this year.

Director Mike Rees, director of the Oregon Department of Corrections, told the Senate Committee on Judiciary that an outside investigation into personnel complaints produced sustained findings against the assistant director of health services and the chief of medicine. "I reviewed the investigative report, listened to or read individual interviews, and read all of the supporting documents," Rees said. He said he concurred with the findings, terminated the two leaders and appointed new interim leadership.

The changes came amid efforts to address backlogs in scheduling off‑site medical visits, staffing shortages and the absence of an electronic medical record. "The health and well-being of those in our custody and care is a top priority," Rees said. He also said the department hired Falcon Correctional and Community Services to conduct a comprehensive, top‑to‑bottom review of health services.

Heidi Stewart, deputy director of the Department of Corrections and interim assistant director for Health Services, described immediate operational steps taken since she assumed the interim role about five months ago. Stewart said the department consolidated schedulers who arrange off‑site appointments into a single statewide section under a clinical supervisor, and that the DOC has added…