Corrections_Today_November_December_2019

The conference kickstarted on Thursday, Aug. 1, for the annual Committee on Performance-Based Standards meeting. It wasn’t until the next day that the conference moved into high gear, with the open- ing of registration and the three conference training sessions. Attendees could attend training sessions on the Essentials of Addiction Treatment, Ethical Decision Making in Correctional Health Care and Suicide Prevention and Self-Injurious Behaviors. Friday evening was also the night of the annual Health Care Network Reception, sponsored by Correct Rx Pharmacy Services. The event allowed all conference attendees to gather for some good food and to network with people from all over the correctional field. As per tradition, ACA Execu- tive Director James A. Gondles, Jr. introduced Dr. Ellen H. Yankellow, President and CEO of Correct Rx Pharmacy Services. Dr. Yankellow gave kind remarks, declaring that the event “allows a great networking opportunity, but also an opportunity to share best practices.” Saturday continued the festivities with the opening of the Health and Wellness Expo. The expo allowed attendees to take a break from the hectic conference, where they could get a massage, get their blood pressure checked, play Wii Sports and learn more about health subjects like mindful eating and how to read food labels. Saturday was also when various affiliate, chapter, committee and council meetings began. The meetings over the

This conference was also notable for ACA’s first-ever scavenger hunt using the ACA Conference app.

next several days included committees for ethics, juvenile corrections, resolutions and policies and more. Saturday was also the day of the annual Health Care Special Session and Luncheon. While attend- ees dined on a great lunch sponsored by Centurion, Dr. Noele Nelson, the Branch Chief for the Pre- vention Branch, Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC, gave a special presentation on the prevention and control of viral hepatitis in correctional settings. In her lecture, Dr. Nelson sought to identify the at-risk groups for the ongoing hepatitis A outbreaks in the U.S., describe the Advisory Committee on Immu- nization Practices recommendations for hepatitis B vaccine in correctional facilities and recognize the association of injection drug use with the increase in hepatitis C virus infection incidence. →

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