there is no other way to be
For the most part, I have 9 patients on my schedule each day. That’s the plan anyhow. About 10 of those slots each week go to new evaluations, the rest are followups.
You really have to go with the flow here, because anything can happen.
An inmate could show up in a mood. I can tell right off that somethings up. So much is out of their control here, that when something really goes awry (ie the “police” did something, or they’re worried about something on the outside), they have a hard time grappling with it. Their mind is fully consumed on that one thing. And there’s no way I’m getting their attention for that visit. It’s a reschedule day.
Somedays, there’s a “fog line.” This means the fog is creating a line of sight issue for custody. No one is allowed out of the cell blocks without custody escort. In this case, all the inmates from a specific block are gathered together and brought over to their medical appointments all at once.
Even if their appointment with me isn’t for 2 more hours. In this case, I take them as they come in, regardless of how I planned my schedule.
And this week, I was just starting the day, all was going smoothly. My first patient at 7:30a was from the East Block, the condemned, as they call them (the inmates even refer to themselves this way, “I’m a condemned”–not sure I’ll ever get used to that term). It takes some effort to get them to medical. They always require escort and they’re always waist-cuffed. Then I ask for them to be un-cuffed and that requires an additional sergeant to confirm and be present.
My patient had a total knee replacement 3 weeks ago and I really wanted to work with him and so did he. But not, 5 minutes in and the officers interrupt, saying there’s a call for all inmates to be back in their cells for a count. This could happen for a variety of reasons, but the most likely is that an inmate is missing. Another reason is that there was a call in from the outside that they saw a person in an orange jumpsuit on the road.
Regardless the reason, all inmates were required back in their cells, pronto as a lockdown ensues. Cutting our session short. And the day has quickly shifted. The porters start to head out of the building. The inmates that had just arrived at their classes, having just started for the new year, are heading back out and to their cells. And those that live in the H Unit dorms take the long walk back.
The medical building become quiet with a hush. No porters in conversation, no inmates gathering, no appointments, nothing. The halls become deserted as practitioners sit behind their locked doors. I sit with one of the officers who asks for a heat pack for his back. And I get to hear the calls coming out on his radio. It’s the only sound informing us know what’s going on. He’s been a custody officer for 17 years and at this institution for 15. I get to hear explanations about what might be happening and that we’re waiting for all inmates to be in their cells. Then the tower will call for a head count. The process could take several hours.
When he leaves the gym, I’m suddenly aware that without the radio calls, I don’t know what’s going on. Grateful that he was there that first time so I could get acquainted with the process.
I go out in the hall to ask what the call is. A female officer informs me that all counts are in and the inmates will be coming back slowly to appointments, but that all will need to be escorted. It’s now 9:30am. Grateful now that I ate my breakfast fuel in the break because it’s about to get hectic.
Patients begin showing up…from the early morning ones I missed, to the latest afternoon appointments. And it’s a juggle. Trying to see those that have showed up first to those that showed up on time to those that it’s not even time for their appointment. Such a mishmash. But trying to give ample attention to those in front of me. To them, it’s another day. For me, I explain to them to be patient because the lockdown shifted the whole schedule. They understand.
They’re not in control of a lot in here. So they too have learned to be or will learn to be, flexible and patient.
**just to note, I’ll be leaving out the name of the institution that I work at. It’s a state prison for reference. Images are not from the prison as no devices are allowed in.
Prison PT 
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