Massachusetts Department of Correction Launches New Digital Patient Portal

MILFORD — The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) announced a new digital patient portal program across its facilities to provide access to health records via an incarcerated person’s department-issued educational tablet. Individuals within each facility can use the portal to submit digital service requests, access important health educational resources in multiple languages on relevant topics, and make informed decisions about their healthcare. The program is the first patient portal of its kind developed by DOC’s healthcare partner, VitalCore Health Strategies.

“Through creative thinking, collaboration, and determination, the DOC and its partners continue to create new and innovative programs and applications that better serve individuals under our care,” DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said. “We know this patient portal will help our housed population become even more engaged in their own physical and mental health while streamlining the process for our clinicians to provide care.”

Through the portal, incarcerated individuals will be able to submit requests for medical assistance and access health and wellness resources, including guided meditations. Planned updates will allow individuals to request copies of their medical records, access additional health education resources, receive communications from clinicians, and get appointment reminders.

The patient portal will be available through the DOC-issued tablets already used by incarcerated individuals for educational, vocational, and re-entry programming. Since 2024, DOC has used the tablets to expand access to more than 40 programs, including high school equivalency preparation, English, math, science, financial literacy, and other educational and self-improvement resources.