University Medical Center (UMC) of El Paso is responsible to provide medical, mental, and dental health services to the inmate population under the custody of El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO). We started coordinating medical care since May 5, 2019, at both EPSO facilities: Downtown, and Annex County Jails. We have enhanced clinical and administrative processes with efficiency in mind. This includes the intake screenings (up to 300 intakes of Federal and State inmates every 24 hours); routine, urgent, and emergent medical care; as well as, maintaining close communication with our stakeholders (EPSO, USMS, EPHD, and El Paso County Authorities). We are striving to achieve National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standards.

National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) initial accreditation 100% (2017); American Correctional Association (ACA) 100% (2016); Nakamoto (ICE annual audit) full compliance (June 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018).As Health Services Administrator (HSA) at Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center, I was responsible for the overall operation of the Health Services Unit (HSU), and the provision of medical care to a detainee population (male and female detainees) in compliance with American Correctional Association (ACA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regulations, National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC), and GEO policies. The Health Services Unit is in full operation, providing health care to the detainee population. Our efforts resulted with successful audits: Nakamoto audit (June 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018), Office of Detention Oversight (ODO) audit (January 2016), and GEO Corporate audits. We achieved 100% compliance with initial American Corrections Association (ACA) accreditation (August 2016), and with NCCHC initial accreditation (March 2017).I was directly involved in all stages of activation of Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center, coordinating specific duties to newly hired health care providers (new to working in a correctional setting), providing them with orientation and training with the provision of health care in a correctional setting. I was responsible to established policies, directives and procedures in a short period of time for a new detention center to comply with Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) regulations. I retired as the Western Regional Health Systems Administrator from the Federal Bureau of Prisons after 25 years of experience in correctional healthcare.

As a Regional Health Systems Administrator, Western Region, Federal Bureau of Prisons, I provided oversight, guidance and assistance to: 19 Federal institutions, three private contract prisons, and Residential Reentry Centers (half way houses) throughout the states of: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.Upon starting my tenure as Regional Health Systems Administrator in 2012, the Western Region had two complexes and one institution with “Deficient” rating with Program Review. Additionally, the largest detention center lost American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation and was rated “At Risk” by Program Review. As Regional Health Systems Administrator was responsible to direct and coordinate the Medical Assistance Support Team (composed of: regional physician, regional chief dentist, regional pharmacist consultant, regional infectious disease coordinator, regional quality management, and regional nurse consultant). We assessed the institutions with deficient and at risk programs, providing them with detailed directives and closely monitored their progress. Our efforts resulted with one “Superior,” two “Good,” and one “Acceptable” Program Review’s ratings, including full ACA accreditation. I provided motivational guidance to Western Region facilities in their preparation for Program and Operational Reviews, Joint Commission, and ACA accreditation, by suggesting ways to better organize and manage human resources via perpetual audits assigned according to staff’s strengths and team building techniques.

As the Health Services Administrator at FCI Phoenix, I was responsible for the implementation of policies and procedures involved with the provision of health care for medium security male inmates, minimum security female inmates, in compliance with the American Correctional Association (ACA), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), and the Bureau of Prisons Health Services Program Statements. We achieved a “Good” rating with Program Review in 2012, and on July of 2012, we underwent an unannounced re-accreditation with JCAHO, receiving full accreditation.My performance as Health Services Administrator resulted in receiving: Supervisor of the Year, Special Act, and Sustained Superior Performance awards in 2012.

As a Health Services Administrator at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Atwater, I was involved with all stages of activation, I coordinated specific duties to medical staff, in order to accomplish current established policies, directives and operations. This was cleverly achieved via my assessment of my staff’s abilities and potentials. As a result, the Health Services Unit was in full operation, providing health care for approximately 1,574 high security and minimum security inmates. I was responsible for the implementation of policies and procedures involved with the provision of health care for high custody and minimum security inmates, in compliance with the American Correctional Association (ACA), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), and the Bureau of Prisons Health Services Manual. The initial accreditation with the JCAHO in 2003, resulted with a score of 97 with full accreditation. The initial accreditation with the American Correctional Association (ACA) resulted with a score of 100 in mandatory files, and 99.7 with non mandatory files. Additionally, we received a rating of “Good” with initial Program Review. My performance as Health Services Administrator resulted in receiving Supervisor of the Year 2005 award, outstanding evaluations, two Quality Step Increases, and Sustained Superior Performance.

As the Health Services Administrator at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Three Rivers, Texas, I was responsible for the overall operation of the Health Services Unit, in charge of the administrative duties involved with the provision of health care to an inmate population of approximately 1,400 medium and minimum security Federal inmates.During my tenure at FCI Three Rivers, our Health Services Unit achieved the highest rating in the Federal Bureau of Prisons with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in 1999, achieving a rating of 99 - “Accreditation with commendation.” Our efforts in search of excellence resulted with a “SUPERIOR” rating with Health Services Program Review in 2000.My performance as Health Services Administrator resulted in receiving outstanding evaluations including two Quality Step Increases and one Sustained Superior Performance.