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Oregon DOC outlines Falcon Group findings and implementation plan; EHR launch set for Nov. 4
Summary
Oregon Department of Corrections directors described Falcon Group findings of antiquated facilities, an aging incarcerated population, missing electronic health records and staffing shortages; DOC plans an EHR rollout starting Nov. 4 at Oregon State Penitentiary and will pursue a phased implementation and quality‑improvement program.
Director Mike Rees told the committees that a February 2024 investigative process and subsequent Falcon Group assessment identified significant challenges in the Department of Corrections’ health services: antiquated infirmaries (including Oregon State Penitentiary), an aging and higher‑acuity population (more than 1,000 adults in custody aged 60+), no electronic health record (paper charts historically), staffing shortages that drive costly locum contracts (roughly double cost), an offender-management IT system dating to 1989 (DOC 400), and an absence of a continuous quality‑improvement program.
Rees said Falcon toured 11 of the 12 institutions, met stakeholders and provided prioritized recommendations. Assistant Director Kevin Bovenkamp described near-term priorities: eliminating the backlog of off‑site specialist appointments (reported ~1,100 trips in April rising to ~1,600 in August), launching a vendor electronic health record at Oregon State Penitentiary on Nov. 4 with phased rollouts thereafter, drafting a continuous quality‑improvement policy and rebuilding staffing capacity once the EHR is operational.
Members asked about options to reduce transport costs (bringing specialists into institutions vs. transports), the pay differential between contracted and DOC employees, and whether compassionate release or alternative delivery systems are feasible without legislative action. DOC said some implementation options will require legal and budget work and that certain release authorities would require legislative changes; DOC also flagged the 11‑15 Medicaid waiver as a potential but uncertain funding mechanism.
