Correctional health care professionals are among the most dedicated and compassionate members of the health care workforce, yet their experiences remain understudied. Their voices deserve to be heard, recognized, and used to inform meaningful change.
Staffing shortages among health care and custody staff can negatively affect the well-being of both patients and staff. To better understand the correctional health care workforce, the NCCHC Foundation has funded a mixed-methods research project that launched in 2025.
Over the past year, researchers interviewed more than 30 current and former correctional health care staff members to explore ways to improve recruitment and retention. Participants represented a range of disciplines, including nursing, medical providers, mental health professionals, and dentistry, as well as geographic regions across the United States.
The second phase of the research is now underway: a survey designed to better understand how professionals enter, remain in, and leave the field of correctional health care. Survey questions address topics such as:
- How respondents were recruited into correctional health care
- Why they accepted their roles
- Concerns they had before entering the field
- Expectations for the role compared with the reality of the work
- Working conditions, workload, job demands, and organizational culture
This research offers a valuable opportunity for correctional health care professionals to share their experiences and help shape actionable recommendations for correctional and health care leadership.
This study has been reviewed and approved by the Sacred Heart University Institutional Review Board, FY2026-43.
