When an Allegany County jail inmate was stricken last month with a medical emergency, he was taken to Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville. Doctors there felt the inmate required more specialized care and the man was then transferred to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo. The inmate remained in intensive care for nearly two weeks. It was a costly stay. Here is a summary of events presented this week to the Allegany County Public Safety Committee:
Sheriff Whitney stated last month they had a prisoner with a medical condition who had to be sent to Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) and ended up being in the ICU for 12 days. It required two officers driving back and forth to ECMC every 8 hours for 12 days and cost $27,000 in overtime. Sheriff Whitney stated they had no control over the situation as it was a local prisoner and the judge wouldn’t release him. Legislator Decker asked if the same situation applies to federal prisoners. Sheriff Whitney stated, yes; however, they bill for the overtime and get that money back. Sheriff Whitney noted that they did reach out to Erie County to see if they could assist with providing two deputies, but they were unable to help out at that time. Legislator Ricci asked if it was something that could have been handled at Jones Memorial Hospital. Sheriff Whitney stated they sent the prisoner to Jones Memorial first, and they chose to transfer the prisoner out.
