Press Releases

Clinical Manager Publishes Article on Nursing’s Critical Role in Chronic Care Treatment

CorrectCare Magazine article highlights how CMS nurses help increase efficiency and effectiveness of chronic care

St. Louis - February 27, 2009

A new article in the current issue of CorrectCare Magazine explores the essential role of nursing in chronic care given the clinical processes nurses manage and the many points of contact they have with patients.

Lorry Schoenly, Clinical Education Manager at Correctional Medical Services, Inc. (CMS), authored the piece and says she believes a team approach is necessary for the successful provision of chronic care in the correctional environment.

The article points to a recent initiative by CMS within 21 Missouri Department of Corrections facilities to enhance care delivery through increased teamwork between physicians and nurses, along with a realignment of chronic care nurse clinical responsibilities. Staff from around the state are quoted as saying the new approach has helped increase efficiencies within care delivery and improve patient outcomes.

Additional successful strategies used by CMS nurses are explored in the article and include efforts such as increased patient education, close side-effect management and continued follow-up. The piece also highlights creative methods such as peer support groups and medication administration programs nurses have developed and overseen to involve inmate patients in their own health care.

“Nurses at CMS are collaborating with medical and administrative staff to creatively re-engineer the chronic care process,” said Schoenly. “With this article, we wanted to share our successes with the corrections community to encourage innovation in care processes.”

Download the full text of Lorry Schoenly’s article

About Correctional Medical Services, Inc (CMS)

Correctional Medical Services, Inc (CMS) is a nationwide leader in the provision of correctional healthcare services, offering a comprehensive suite of medical, dental, pharmacy and mental health services for the incarcerated population. CMS currently maintains a presence in 18 states and manages medical services for 10 statewide systems. More than 6,000 employees and independent contractors work with CMS nationwide. For more information, visit the CMS Web site at www.cmsstl.com.