The Broward County jails hospice program: hospice in the jail

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gerontology
• Criminal Justice

Background:

• Broward County's jail hospice program began in 1995.
• Infirmary services are centralized in one of four jail sites.
• Partnership with Hospice by the Sea provides care within the jail and community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation and operation of a jail hospice program.
• To identify unique aspects of hospice care in a jail setting compared to prison hospice.
• To highlight ongoing challenges and successes in providing hospice to detainees.

Main Methods:

• Programmatic review of the Broward County jail hospice initiative.
• Analysis of care delivery models for detainees and those released to the community.
• Identification of institutional facilitators and barriers to care.

Main Results:

• The jail hospice program has been operational since 1995.
• Attitudinal resistance has largely been resolved.
• Key challenges include supplies, dietary needs, visitation, and patient isolation.

Conclusions:

• Jail hospice requires expedited identification and enrollment due to shorter stays.
• Successful jail hospice programs require addressing institutional impediments.
• Collaboration with community hospice providers is crucial for comprehensive care.