Managing Infectious Disease for a Population within a Confined Environment
The Northeast Ohio Correctional Center located in Youngstown, Ohio is an American Correctional Association-accredited male population prison with 2,016 beds. The prison is a public-private partnership managed by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).
Tuberculosis and other infectious airborne diseases can be particularly problematic within correctional institutions, as large numbers of individuals from diverse backgrounds are living within confined environments.
In order for the medical staff to effectively manage infectious diseases and comply with CDC recommendations for correctional and detention facilities, the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center maintains two negative pressure isolation prison cells.
The CCA contacted Triatek’s Ohio representative, Ingenuity IEQ, to upgrade their legacy room pressure system with new FMS-1655 Room Pressure Controllers. The team at Ingenuity IEQ developed a custom mounting system for the FMS-1655s that would not require additional drilling or compromise the integrity and security of the cell’s cinder block walls.
These cells allow staff to immediately quarantine an inmate, providing better protection against airborne pathogens for the rest of the prison population and staff. The on-site negative pressure isolation cells also allow for a more cost-effective and timely treatment of the patient, as administrators do not have to arrange transports to a local hospital.
Ingenuity IEQ trained prison personnel on the operation of the FMS products, and the nurses and medical staff were very pleased with how easy they were to use. The medical staff also noted that they especially appreciated the Safety Halo™ edge lighting as it allowed them to simply glance down the hall at the green lights during their daily checks of these cells, resulting in a medical environment that is not only safe, but also efficient.
