County Administrator Jack Brown has fired his Director of Corrections, Mike Tidwell. Starting today, jail command, community corrections and road prison staff will report directly to Assistant County Administrator Chip Simmons until the search for a new corrections director is complete.
According to a press release from the county, Simmons will work to fill an open health services administrator position and the medical unit will be placed back under the control of the jail commander who will now be empowered to make decisions regarding transporting inmates to an outside medical facility with or without medical staff recommendation. Additionally, a list of critically ill patients will be given to the command staff daily, with each shift providing an end of shift report to include updates on every infirmary patient to the jail commander.
At the 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 Commission Agenda Review Meeting, County Administrator Jack Brown will present a report on the health care system at the jail completed by Alliance Medical Management. In May, Escambia County hired the consultant to conduct an analysis of the current system.
Alliance Medical Management’s report was delivered to the county administrator on Aug. 18, 2015.
Two medical system improvement options were recommended by the group to enhance services and improve operations â to privatize medical and mental health services or continue medical services under an in-house, full-time medical director. Brown is planning to make a recommendation to the board to approve the internal medical director option. This new position would be responsible for clinical policy direction and overall management of the health care program.
Other recommendations include establishing an independent monitor position, better determining the financial needs for a successful detained health care program, and rebidding or restructuring the pharmaceutical contract to ensure best pricing. Read Full Report.
Per county policy, Tidwell was relieved of all duties and given 90 daysâ notice. Tidwell started as director on Jan. 26 and was responsible for community corrections, county jail and the road prison. His annual salary was $118,543. He replaced former director Gordon Pike, who retired in November 2014.