Australia: Alexander Maconochie centre moves to automated methadone dosing

Iris recognition is now being used to help give inmates the right dose of methadone in Canberra’s jail. ACT Health last month began using iDose, a computerised method of dosing to improve the speed and accuracy with inmates with opioid addictions received their medications.

The technology saves nurses 22 hours a week or about half a full-time position.

There were 115 inmates in the Alexander Maconochie Centre’s methadone program as of August 29. All have their doses administered by two nurses, whose rounds take between four and five hours and cover the Hume Health Centre, women’s accommodation, sentenced block, remand block, accommodation unit and Special Care Centre.

All dosing areas, except for the women’s accommodation, are monitored by CCTV cameras. The nurses aren’t hired specifically to dose methadone, rather its administration is part of their wider duties. Corrections minister Shane Rattenbury said the dosing system eliminated a “degree of human error, therefore providing an “extra level of safety”.

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