SC Connecticut News

It is estimated that over 80% of incarcerated individuals suffer from chronic health issues, such as hypertension, HIV, hepatitis C, and mental health and substance use disorders. This demographic predominantly comprises Black and Latinx individuals residing in underserved areas.

Upon release from prison, these chronic conditions often worsen due to a lack of integrated healthcare between the carceral system and community services. Lisa Puglisi, MD, associate professor of medicine at Yale and director of the Transitions Clinic-New Haven (TC-NH), highlights this disconnect. "The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) provides health care for people during incarceration," she explained. "We work closely with them to try to coordinate care transitions for people returning to New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford." Despite their efforts, many face discontinuity in medications and therapy upon reentry into society.

In response to these challenges, Puglisi's team at the SEICHE Center for Health and Justice secured $1 million in grant funding from The Tow Foundation and The Connecticut Project. This funding will establish TC-HUB—a central hub designed to bridge healthcare gaps for those leaving prison with chronic health issues. It will include a nurse care coordinator and community health workers who have been previously incarcerated.

Emily Tow, president of The Tow Foundation, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “The TC-HUB aligns with our longstanding commitment to helping communities across Connecticut thrive.” Mirellise Vazquez from The Connecticut Project added: "Formerly incarcerated people are people...every person should have access to the quality health care they need."

The funding aims to improve care transitions by hiring a nurse care coordinator for community referrals and employing community health workers with incarceration experience. These workers will assist individuals in navigating healthcare systems while addressing social needs like housing and employment.

Puglisi noted the potential impact: “We have the unprecedented opportunity to improve care transitions for arguably the most high-risk people in the community.” She sees this as an innovative step toward enhancing population health equity on a large scale.

General Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine remains dedicated to patient care, research, education, and community health through its generalist approach.