Report: Medical care at DeKalb Jail has room for improvement

DECATUR - Recent findings could hamper DeKalb County Jail&#39;s efforts to renew a multimillion-dollar contract with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to hold federal detainees there. <br> <br> The 12-page report was issued by Dr. Robert Greifinger, a physician appointed to monitor medical care at the jail following a March 2001 settlement that stemmed from a class-action lawsuit by 15 inmates. <br> <br> The inmates complained of poor care at the jail, including mistreatment or ignoring of ill inmates. <br> <br> Greifinger visited the jail in mid-January. He was former medical director at the New York state Department of Corrections. Greifinger cited some positive findings, such as reduced backlog for dental care and CPR training for jailers. <br> <br> Overall, however, ``The county is not close to compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement,&#39;&#39; he wrote. <br> <br> Among report findings: an inmate with tuberculosis was in the general population for five weeks before he was sent to the county Health Department; female inmates who tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases in December were not treated; and, an inmate with glaucoma was not receiving his medication. <br> <br> The INS ended its contract with the county last year due to concerns about medical care at the jail. County commissioners approved a budget in February anticipating $5 million from the INS. Officials have been negotiating with the federal agency and expect to reach an agreement in June.