Program Representative Interviewed: Rita Torres, Founder & CEO
Location: Pueblo, Colorado
Program Overview: Health Care Partners (HCP)
Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007. HCP Foundation aims to improve the
well-being of people who are incarcerated in jail systems in Colorado. In 2011, HCP Foundation began using
telehealth to provide medical and mental health services through a network of rural jails, hospitals, law
enforcement, community agencies, and residents. With the use of telehealth, HCP has successfully created
cost-effective, integrated systems that offer 24/7 triage and crisis intervention, medication assistance,
and online patient education.
The use of telemedicine, telepsychiatry, and telecounseling services for
people who are incarcerated has improved access to healthcare systems in jails, reduced emergency department
visits, and reduced healthcare costs. For telehealth to be effective, HCP Foundation works closely with its
providers to ensure adequate reporting and workloads. Rita Torres, founder and CEO, noted the success of the
telehealth programs among the providers. Allowing the providers to have a voice throughout program
implementation has enabled better reporting and greater connections with patients. HCP Foundation's
telehealth program has also established policies and procedures that must be followed when working with a
patient. These policies and procedures allow for seamless documentation and quick access to patient
information for all providers.
The use of telecounseling is essential for addressing the root cause of
problems that often lead to incarceration. While HCP Foundation's telehealth services focus on the criminal
justice system, continuity of care is critical to patient success. HCP Foundation works with the patient
upon release and helps them find a new provider, no matter how long it takes.
In addition to telehealth
services, HCP focuses on online officer and staff training, community-based systems, risk mitigation and
budget sustainability, electronic medical records, and 24/7 provider-based triage.
