By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office says a health monitoring system currently being used at several county jails is helping incarcerated people suffering from possible health issues receive the care they need more quickly and efficiently.
On September 15, the Sheriff’s Office expanded its use of the 4Sight Labs Overwatch health monitoring system to the Vista Detention Facility. The Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility and San Diego Central Jail have already been using the Overwatch system.
Overwatch uses a biometric wristband developed by 4Sight Labs to monitor heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature, movement and ambient temperature. When the biometric sensor detects abnormal readings, it sends alerts to Sheriff’s Deputies through a desktop application and their county-issued mobile devices.
Deputies respond to check on the incarcerated person and jail medical staff complete an evaluation to determine whether further medical care or treatment is necessary.
On September 17, Vista Detention Facility deputies received an Overwatch alert for a 69-year-old man in custody. Deputies escorted him to the Medical Ward for further evaluation. The medical staff determined he needed further evaluation and treatment at a hospital. The man was quickly transported to the hospital and received the appropriate medical care. He is now back at the facility.
On October 1, deputies at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee responded to an Overwatch alert involving a 39-year-old woman in custody. Deputies escorted the woman to the facility’s Medical Ward, where medical staff determined she required additional evaluation and treatment at a hospital. She was transported to a hospital, where she received medical care, and has since been released from the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility.
Since January, deputies have responded to more than 727 Overwatch alerts. In each case, the incarcerated person was assessed and received the appropriate care. Seven individuals ended up receiving follow-up medical care as a result of an Overwatch alert.
Participation in the Overwatch program is completely voluntary. The goal is to detect any medical issues early and get participants the treatment they need, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office says it will continue to actively work with 4Sight Labs with plans to expand the program further.
Sheriff Kelly Martinez has made improvements in the jails a top priority and will continue to advance the technology we use to care for incarcerated individuals.
