Georgia Correctional HealthCare (GCHC) is the division of the Medical College of Georgia that provides high quality health care to over 80 facilities throughout the State for the Georgia Department of Corrections. GCHC began as a result of a discussion in 1996 between former Governor Zell Miller and past MCG President Francis Tedesco, M.D. This initial discussion led to the development of an Interagency Agreement between the Medical College of Georgia and The Georgia Department of Corrections. On July 1, 1997, MCG agreed to provide comprehensive healthcare services for the 60,000 inmates incarcerated by the Department of Corrections. Through this agreement, GCHC committed itself to maintaining the high level of quality healthcare while attempting to control the spiraling costs associated with inmate healthcare.
Operational Overview
GCHC currently manages the healthcare
units at 37 state prisons, three Boot Camps, 19 Probation Detention Centers, 14 Diversion Centers, seven Pre-Relase Centers and 12
Transition Centers. Each facility contains various medical capabilities
dependent upon the size and mission of the site. Regional infirmaries
provide 24 hour, 7 days per week primary healthcare services at 14 of these
sites. GCHC's primary business office is located in the Annex I building on the MCG campus,
and maintains satellite offices in Atlanta, Milledgeville, Valdosta, Trion and
Waycross.
