A Healing Partnership

"I have always enjoyed adolescents. This is a perfect match with where I am in my career." — Bryant Fortner, M.D.

As associate professor of clinical pediatrics and a physician on staff at University Primary Care, Dr. Fortner also serves as Medical Director for the Department of Juvenile Justice. A Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, he is the only pediatrician in South Carolina certified as a Correctional Health Professional by the National Commission on Healthcare.

Through a contractual relationship between DJJ and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Dr. Fortner assists in providing health care services for adolescents at the main campus on Broad River Road and four other campuses in the Columbia area. The contract also includes on-call coverage coordinated by University Primary Care (in conjunction with the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine), and specialists are provided when required for medically necessary care. Psychiatrists from the School of Medicine routinely conduct psychiatric evaluations required by the court and parole board, and physicians from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery travel to DJJ facilities on an as-needed basis.

The partnership between the state agency and the School of Medicine was formed in 1997, shortly before Dr. Fortner accepted the position as Medical Director after 25 years of service in the U.S. Army. “I have always enjoyed adolescents. This is a perfect match with where I am in my career,” he said. He genuinely enjoys the interaction with the youth as he conducts their initial medical evaluations and annual exams, attends to acute health care needs, manages chronic problems such as asthma and diabetes, and cares for them in DJJ’s seven-bed infirmary.

Samuel Soltis, Director of Health Services at the Department of Juvenile Justice, is more than pleased with DJJ’s relationship with Dr. Fortner and the School of Medicine. “The level of care has elevated dramatically and we can provide access to care in a much quicker fashion than we were able to previously,” he said. He also speaks highly of Dr. Fortner’s role as a preceptor with DJJ’s nurse practitioners and how effectively he monitors hospital and specialist care provided to juveniles. “I have worked in healthcare management for 18 years and I don’t think I have ever worked with a medical director like him. He’s wonderful,” added Soltis.

John Solomn, Ph.D., DJJ’s Deputy Director of Rehabilitation Services, shared Soltis’ satisfaction, adding, “There is no discrimination between the health care a juvenile would get here and what they would get in the community. The relationship with the School of Medicine definitely connects us to the community’s standard of care; we are part of the medical community and not isolated from it,” he said.

Dr. Fortner attributes the efficient delivery of health care to a cooperative effort and good communications between DJJ staff and the School of Medicine. Complimenting the Department of Juvenile Justice’s committed nurses, pharmacy personnel, dental personnel, and health administrators, he added, “We all work together to provide these kids with quality health care.”

Reprinted from Connections newsletter, November 2002

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