CT Prison Care Changes Announced

SUFFIELD, CT — Connecticut prison officials announced new leadership changes Tuesday as the state works to reduce delays in medical care for people in custody.

The Department of Correction said Sharonda Carlos formally became commissioner May 1, following the retirement of former Commissioner Angel Quiros. Carlos has worked for the agency for more than two decades, including as deputy commissioner of administration.

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The agency also created a new senior medical leadership position. Dr. Craig G. Burns has been named executive director of inmate medical services.

Burns previously served in senior clinical roles with the Department of Correction, including chief mental health officer. He also trained in adult psychiatry and forensic psychiatry at Yale, according to the department.

The leadership changes come as the agency says it has made progress reducing a backlog of outside specialty medical appointments.

Between April 1 and May 8, the department said 1,289 specialty medical appointments were booked and 998 were completed. The department said it is now scheduling about 250 specialty appointments per week, which is more than the number of new requests coming in during recent weeks.

The department said it is working with the state Office of Policy and Management, the Department of Social Services and UConn Health through a joint task force focused on health care access, wait times and staffing needs.

DOC officials said they are reviewing the highest-need cases first, updating scheduling systems and looking at more ways to provide care through telehealth, mobile vendors and in-house services.

The department said it is also evaluating temporary specialty clinics in cardiology and gastroenterology over the next 60 days. Those areas were described by the agency as two of the most serious shortage areas.

A $1 million investment in the governor’s budget is also expected to fund a permanent interagency team focused on prison medical care, including staffing, facilities and technology planning, according to the department.

Other leadership changes were also announced. Robert Richeson, formerly the agency’s chief operating officer, will oversee health care expansion initiatives and service development.

Dr. Byron Kennedy, the agency’s former chief medical officer, is now serving as director of academic affairs and regulations. His work will focus on credentialing, compliance, HIPAA oversight and training for medical staff, according to the department.

The department also said it has received funding to add advanced practice registered nurses and clinical social workers. Officials said the added staff will help expand primary care and mental health services across state prison facilities.

DOC officials said the agency is also working on discharge planning so people with health needs can continue care after leaving custody.

The department said it has expanded some preventive care, including colorectal cancer screening for people over 40 and mammography services at York Correctional Institution, the state prison for women.

The agency also said it is expanding mental health services, education, vocational training and spiritual support inside facilities.

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