Press Release  Clinical Access to Healthcare Records Through Tablets Implemented Across All Massachusetts Department of Correction Facilities

Milford — The Massachusetts Department of Correction today announced that medical and mental health clinicians across all DOC facilities now have dedicated tablets that provide real-time access to health records, strengthening clinical decision-making and continuity of care for incarcerated individuals.   

The implementation of these tablets puts in practice a recent recommendation made by Dr. Sharen Barboza, who was commissioned by DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins to review six in-custody deaths by suicide in 2025. Dr. Barboza recommended strengthening the continuity of care provided by treatment teams and addressing the length and quality of clinical contacts and documentation. 

The DOC worked closely with its healthcare provider VitalCore to ensure that these tablets support clinicians in accessing timely, accurate, and essential information while providing care inside DOC facilities. 

“The use of these tablets for clinicians will have a wide-ranging and positive impact on how we provide healthcare services to the individuals in our care,” said DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins. “In real time, team members can review, access and respond to an individual’s medical needs, but also record all relevant and pertinent information so the continuum of care remains consistent.” 

The tablets allow clinicians to review prior clinical contacts, treatment notes, medication information, and other relevant documentation at the point of care. This immediate access helps medical and mental health staff make more informed decisions and supports a more consistent standard of care across DOC facilities.  

The technology provides nursing staff with a more efficient way to document medical administration in real time, reducing the need to sync or enter this information to the health record at a later point.  

The tablet roll out is one of several recent steps the DOC has taken, in partnership with VitalCore Health Strategies, to strengthen access to health and behavioral health services. The Department previously launched a first-of-its-kind new after-hours mental health wellness helpline designed to strengthen and expand services for incarcerated individuals.  

Through the helpline, individuals now have access to qualified providers during extended coverage hours, and through the helpline overnight, ensuring support is available when concerns arise outside the standard schedule.  

Phased rollout of the helpline began on December 1, 2025. As of April 6, 2026, the helpline has received 172 calls from incarcerated individuals seeking assistance. The DOC and VitalCore provided service based on the nature of the call.  

Together, these initiatives reflect the Department’s continued implementation of enhancements connected to health, behavioral health, and suicide prevention, and align with the DOC’s strategic plan, the Align Initiative, which lists one of the core values as Excellence in Health and Wellbeing.  

About the Massachusetts Department of Correction  
The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) manages the custody, care, and rehabilitation of approximately 6,000 individuals across 13 state facilities. The DOC emphasizes evidence-based programming, trauma-informed care, and educational and vocational training to reduce recidivism and is committed to fostering accountability, personal growth, and successful reentry. Through partnerships with community organizations and stakeholders, the DOC delivers innovative services tailored to the diverse needs of incarcerated individuals while advancing equity, inclusion, and long-term public safety.  

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