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Who is Armor Correctional Health Services?
By Jeff Fecke | January 30, 2007
Okay, sometimes you notice something that takes you off in a direction you weren’t expecting to go.
As I previously noted, the jailed-rape-victim story Robin drew my attention to is horrible. And it’s pretty awful across the board, from the decision to jail a rape victim over a juvenile warrant to the refusal of jail medical officials to allow her to take Emergency Contraception, because it was against the medical staffer’s religion.
It was in looking at that part of the story that I saw something that caught my eye. It was in this report from the St. Petersburg TImes:
Debbie Carter, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office, which runs the jail, said she couldn’t comment on the situation because medical information is private. But she said medical service policies are set by Armor Correctional Health Services, which contracts with the jail.
Armor’s corporate offices were closed late Monday when the St. Petersburg Times tried to reach a spokesperson.
Now, that’s interesting. The health care provider is a private contractor. Now, perhaps this was just one random nurse, someone who will be fired soon.
Perhaps. But Armor Correctional Health Services’ meteoric rise indicates its position may be less about competence, and more about connections.
In a November 15, 2005 Miami Herald article (“Broward-based Armor Correctional Health Services has Sheriffs Riding Shotgun“), Dan Christensen lays out what has led to Armor’s rise:
A year ago, Coconut Creek-based Armor Correctional Health Services was an upstart in the business of providing healthcare for jail inmates.The company had formidable political connections but no track record, no active contracts and not a dollar in sales.
But Armor, owned by Miami physician Dr. Jose Armas, has bulked up fast.
Today, with behind-the-scenes help from several current and former Florida sheriffs, Armor has signed multiyear contracts with Broward, Brevard and Hillsborough counties worth about $221 million over five years. A fourth contract, with Martin County, is being finalized.
County sheriffs do their own hiring and set the rules that competing bidders must follow.
In Broward and Brevard, rules were changed in advance of bids in ways that helped Armor qualify for contracts.
And in Hillsborough, Armor’s bid was millions of dollars higher than three others. It got a boost from a late decision to eliminate price as a consideration.
Two sheriffs who bypassed Armor said fellow sheriffs have called them and plugged the company. They identified those sheriffs as Ken Jenne of Broward, Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach and J.R. ”Jack” Parker of Brevard.
So to review, Armor wasn’t in business until 2004. Today, they’re making millions as a health care provider for Florida prisons. Meanwhile, Jose Armas, the owner of the company, donated to a series of Republican state candidates, including Governor Charlie Crist.
That is significant, because Crist just appointed Ana Viamonte Ros as the state’s first Surgeon General. Where did Viamonte Ros work?
Viamonte-Ros 50, of Coral Gables, manages Clinical Operation Support at Armor Correctional Health Services in Coconut Creek, Florida. She is the author of numerous publications in the areas of mental health, radiology and family health.
Now, it’s entirely possible that Armor Correctional Health Services is just a striving company, and the individual in question is just one bad apple. It’s possible, but given the way the company has been built, it seems unlikely. Certainly, this will need to be watched carefully, and hopefully by people a bit closer to Florida than myself.
Topics: Crime, Feminism, Health Care, Sexual Assault | 23 Comments »
January 30th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Nice work. I didn’t see any of this mentioned in the AP report, and it sure seems like more people would be interested in this additional depth.
January 31st, 2007 at 8:21 am
You would be surprised how much work in our prisons is outsourced. Take a look at BI Inc. They are big contractor in rehabilitation and management of prisons all over the country. I find it a little more unsettling that the day to day ops are being handeled by a contractor.
Thoughts?
February 19th, 2007 at 3:25 am
I just wanted to let you know a couple of things. One great blog article. Well said. Second. Armor Correctional is a shitty company. I should know I am a nurse there. However, the information that was released regarding the incident was released prematurely and incorrectly. Great research on the history though. Also might be cute to note that we send our labs all the way to Miami to be processed. Instead of any one of the major local laboratories (Glasko Smith Kline, RMI, etc). I am sure there is something fishey there too. Also our Medicines are supplied by Diamond Pharmacy. Which I believe is also based out of Miami. I believe our CEO is related to their CEO too, but I do not know that part for fact. Ultimately though, regardless of my retarted companies screw up, your first statement was dead on. Let’s no punish the victim of rape for lesser crime. Especially when that crime was already settled and taken care of. They should have had their facts straightened out a little better. What a shame.
December 26th, 2007 at 10:10 am
My daughter died on 12,12 this year. She had been held at the Broward Correctional Facility, and had filed many complaints about health care there. She died after being subjected rto a hysterectomy of which no one was aware of the necessity.
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
re:The death of Pam Queen…My daughter who died on 12-12-2007. I have tried to get info on what happened, but to no avail.She had a surgery at the Memorial Hosp.Jacksonville Fla. She had been sent there (300 miles away} by bus, for this procedure. From there she was transferred to RMC, Lake Butler. On the evening of the 12th I was called and told she had died. At 7:30 the next morning a social worker called to say my daughter was doing well, very animated and happy to be going home on 1/3/2008
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I told the worker that she had died the night before. Ihad tried to get info but nothing forthcomming. Two days ago I recieved a release form for her information to be released to me. SHE HAD SIGNED THIS FORM ON THE DAY SHE DIED. Can anyone lead me in a direction that will help. Also, cause of death…..pending. No obvious reason…
February 25th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Alot of sour grapes, and not enough attention to the fact that alot of Nurses and Doctors’ are delivering state of the art care, many timely lifesaving treatments and not succumming to greed. There is alot to consider, for instance, how sick the jail populations are when they get there. They are often treated medically for the first time in their recent histories. Armor of Broward County treats more Mental Health Patients than the other Community providers. I can keep going, but clearly the “moderate” left – like there is such a thing, is at its usual murky, shoddy, ilconceived sensationalized tricks.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Oh, I forgot to mention, that some of the Herald and Sun Sentinnel’s writers should learn something from the Grey Lady….
March 19th, 2008 at 8:14 am
This is good stuff. I was an inmate in PBC and was “treated” by Armor. Five interviews and no medications. Three nurses and two doctors. I was in constant pain and discomfort for 30 days after which they finally released me on work release 21 days after the order was signed because my ex-wife threatened a lawsuit because I had had no medications for 30 days. They weren’t going to let me out because I had only 6 days left. I gave them exact names of medications, dosages, etc. Also put in two medical requests with no response. They say it takes a week to ten days. Bottom line: They could give a crap about you while you’re in there and not giving me medications saves $$$ and increases profit. That times thousands of inmates adds up. Anyone who gets seriously ill in there has, in effect, been given a death sentence.
Also, Sheriff’s lobbying on their behalf to other departments? Changing the bidding rules so they (Armor) can qualify? What the hell is that about?
March 19th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I forgot to add, one of their most ardent lobbyists is now serving time for income tax evasion. Wonder what else was on the table when he settled for that plea?
April 7th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Apr.7,2008 Update I have 499 pages of medical reports on the care and death of my daughter Pam Queen on 12/12/2007. There was a lot of good care done at Jackson memorial in jacksonville but…app. 18 hours after being released to Lake Butler Medical Facility she died. As she went into seizure a Dr decided not to treat her because of a “Do Not Recessetate ” order not yet produced.For three days before her release she suffered 3 panic lows of potassium and magnesium.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
She was held in a short term facility,without monitering or meds with the exception of 2 pain meds. I see no where in thheir paperwork that they even took blood pressure,temps etc. If they had…. the DNR and care given her or lack there of …would be included in the many pages that I have. The crux of what I have learned, too extensive to mention here…are being produced into media packaging. The last resort for a mother who simply would like answers,
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
My web site is up,but unfinished. Over the next few weeks we will be releasing med. records. You are invited to look in and blog………
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
medicalmishapsofthefldoc.com
November 16th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
My ex girlfriend, an LPN employeed by Armor, was on Mental Disability for ten years for Aneroxia, PTSD, Panic Disorder, Bipolar, Severe Anxiety, and Chronic Depression!
She was forced back to work by the loss of her Child Support.
She had been let go from an assisted Living place for leavig a MED Cart out, where senile old people could perhaps kill themselves with the Meds.
Armor failed to check her good out before hiring her, and she hid her Mental Conditions, though obviously Aneroxic!
The result ?
She almost caused a riot at the Jail when she said in front of other Inmates “This guy has AIDS”
She stuck herself with a needle used to give a shot to an Inmate in a Panic Attack.
She was Baker Acted for Suicide Threats shortly after!
It is my opinion Armor was so desperate for Nurses in Hillsborough County Orient Road Jail they “looked the other way” as far as her obvious Mental Health Issues goes.
I have filed a Board Of Nursing Complaint to keep my ex girlfriend from possibly attempting to kill herself again.
She cuts up her arms when she gets stressed.
A routine exam would have found these self inflicted cuts, yet it was overlooked!
She had some “friends” at the Jail who I believe hid this from Armor.
I do not blame Armor for everything, but I do think they should have checked into her a little better ?
They paid her as a LPN with 20 plus years of experience, LOL
HAD they chacked, they would have seen she was on Mental Disability for 10 of those years, so Armor got screwed too.
December 22nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Armor Correctional is teaching their Nurses and Booking EMT’s to falsify information on medical charts and incident reports that are designed to document inmate injuries when use of force is initiated. Booking EMT’s are forced to screen no less than 15 inmates per shift or have a sit down with the supervisor who warns, threatens or writes-up employees falling short of the quota. As a result inmates who are extradited (up to 30 per trip)are lost in the shuffle, BGL test are not done on diabetics who are due for a meal or medication, vitals are not taken on HTN patients to determine if they are stable enough to be accepted into the facility and injuries that occur en-route to BMJ ranging from head injuries with obvious trauma are overlooked even though the written protocals are clearly defined. This company needs to be audited, investigated for deliberately violating the rights of inmates on a daily basis. And the individuals who enforce these violations should be individually help accountable.
December 22nd, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Armor Correctional is teaching their Nurses and Booking EMT’s to falsify information on medical charts and incident reports that are designed to document inmate injuries when use of force is initiated. Booking EMT’s are forced to screen no less than 15 inmates per shift or have a sit down with the supervisor who warns, threatens or writes-up employees falling short of the quota. As a result inmates who are extradited (up to 30 per trip)are lost in the shuffle, BGL test are not done on diabetics who are due for a meal or medication, vitals are not taken on HTN patients to determine if they are stable enough to be accepted into the facility and injuries that occur en-route to BMJ ranging from head injuries with obvious trauma are overlooked even though the written protocols are clearly defined. This company needs to be audited, investigated for deliberately violating the rights of inmates on a daily basis. And the supervisors who enforce these violations should be individually held accountable.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Sounds like “Booking Nurse” needs to find a new opportunity. If your comments are true, why would you stay where your license is in jeopardy?
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I have worked for Armor Correctional since 2007. I previously worked for 2 other contractors in the 15 years I have done jail nursing. I am very surprised at the negative comments directed to Armor, especially by people that supposedly work for them. They have very strict guidelines for patient care that are above and beyond the other two companies I worked from. When talking to community doctors regarding our guidelines, they are amazed at the care given to the inmates. As to not getting medications that were prescribed on the outside, there are a lot of things that influence that decision. What were the medications? We have people coming in on multiple narcotic pain medications with a side dish of Xanax all the time that don’t necessarily need them. Everybody in the community knows who the candy man is that will give whatever medications you desire. It’s amazing the poeple that come in on all these meds, and a month later are running up and down the basketball court on no meds. Just because it’s prescribed on the outside is not a reason in itself to prescribe it. The jail medical is responsible for what you take in the jail and have to prescribe based on their evaluations. I don’t believe one bit that they would encourage not taking vitals or blood surgars on a diabetic at intake. Vitals, including weights, are required at every patient encounter, even if it seems it is unrelated to the complaint.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
The corporate office of Armor doesn’t take it on faith that its employees are working to the guidelines that are based on jail standards. They send a team from the corporate office that reviews all areas of the clinic and charts to see if everything is being done as it should, and all are held accountable if it isn’t. This is not a company that is hell bent on getting contracts and just letting things run as they wish. They stay involved in each contract with constant reinforcement of training.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I can tell you from experience that Armor is not an ethical company. I turned in my director, who is an RN also like myself, for telling a medical records director to destroy notes for a patients chart….because I turned her in I was fired…this company will stop at anything to hide truths. And yes KBRN…there are many shortcuts they wanted us to take to save money.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
And yes KBRN they are hellbent on getting contracts and making money…and they could care less what happens at their sites.
September 11th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I am a Registered Nurse, who would like to see healthcare cleaned up in our corrections facilities, especially our Jails. Let’s talk UNIONIZATION of our Florida Correctional RNs, LPNs, Medical Assistants, Techs, and see if there are enough of us who are ready to take the challenge.
I invite you to email me with your observations and/or information on the Contracted Health Service Provider at your jail that you feel you are unable to take to your superiors because you feel you will be retaliated against.
Subjects like: retaliation for being a whistleblower; speaking out for AIDS/mentally ill prisoners and their meds; hostile work environment; pharmacy problems; religious beliefs; doing the right thing; deliberate indifference; supply issues; management harassment of employees.
It’s our responsibility as care givers to protect and care for those we serve, sometimes even from those who win the contracts.
I would like to know of your interest in the formation of a union, please include your title (ie…RN, LPN etc…). I look forward to hearing from you.
ethics.first.correctional.health@gmail.com