Overview
During our audit, we found that the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office (NSO) does not use the sick call functionality offered in the Correctional Electronic Medical Records (CorEMR) system. Instead, NSO staff members manually input sick call request form details in the “Description” data field, which leads to issues when extracting sick call request data since this data is not labeled consistently. This was the case during our audit: the sick call request data we obtained was not properly labeled as such in each instance. Because NSO does not use the full functionality of the CorEMR system for sick calls, it cannot reliably use the designed reporting functions of this s to better track all sick call requests.
NSO stated that, while it does not use the CorEMR system’s sick call functionality, its qualified healthcare professionals use different screens and the “s.s_text” keyword within the CorEMR system to manage sick call requests. We note that other county sheriffs’ offices use the CorEMR system’s sick call functionality. We consider using this functionality to be a best practice because it ensures that NSO keeps this information in a universal format, which in turn helps with monitoring, extracting, and analyzing sick call request data.
We recommend that NSO use the CorEMR system’s sick call functionality for all sick call requests to ensure that NSO manages the health and safety of its inmates as effectively as possible.
Auditee’s Response
I [Sheriff Patrick W. McDermott] appreciate the objective approach and recommendations to utilize the CorEMR sick call functionality. We are reviewing the existing process as well as the recommendation to ensure the health and safety of the offenders in custody. . . .
My agency is audited regularly by state and national entities. Each audit presents an opportunity for the NSO to continue to strive for excellence. I am proud to inform you that following the close of your audit, the NSO participated in additional review by the American Corrections Association. For the second time in a row, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office received a perfect score on both mandatory and recommended standards. Additionally in September of 2021, the NSO was audited in National Commission on Correctional Health Care also meeting all mandatory and recommended standards. These incredibly high achievements are made possible by the faith entrusted to us by the public, the dedication of my staff, and the accountability expectations we are held to by our partners like you.
Auditor’s Reply
We appreciate the department’s cooperation with our audit team and encourage NSO to implement our recommendations regarding this matter. Our team will be conducting a post-audit review in roughly six months to follow up.
| Date published: | July 26, 2024 |
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