Armor Health Deploys ACE Geriatric Model of Care at Franklin County Ohio Correctional Facilities -- Believed to Be a First in Correctional Healthcare
MIAMI, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Armor Health (ArmorHealthcare.com), a leading national provider of comprehensive correctional healthcare, today announced the deployment of the Acute Care for Elders (ACE) model of care at the Franklin County Correctional Facilities, with plans to expand and offer the program across Armor's facilities nationwide.
To the company's knowledge, Armor Health is the first correctional healthcare provider to implement the ACE model inside a jail environment, bringing a structured, evidence-based approach to the unique healthcare needs of an aging correctional population.
"We applaud the Franklin County Sheriff's Office leadership for continuing to lead the way in innovation and evidenced based quality care delivery in meeting their mission to foster an environment of respect and dignity toward those in custody," said Armor's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jimmy Fernandez.
Older detainees frequently arrive with complex medical needs, including chronic disease, cognitive impairment, increased fall risk, sensory loss, and disruptions to medications and established routines. Armor's clinical team has adapted the ACE model specifically for the correctional environment through standardized nursing order sets designed to ensure consistent care across every shift.
The protocols include delirium screening every shift with same-day provider notification, housing assignments matched to clinical needs, guaranteed access to glasses and hearing aids, and the use of restraints only after non-pharmacologic interventions have been exhausted.
By incorporating these practices directly into standing clinical protocols, Armor is working to ensure that appropriate geriatric care does not depend on the experience or memory of an individual clinician. Instead, the standard becomes part of the healthcare system and can be consistently applied across facilities.
"Since we implemented the ACE model here in Franklin County, we've seen a real, measurable shift in how our geriatric patients are cared for—fewer falls, fewer avoidable hospital transfers, and a care team that catches problems before they become emergencies," said Brooke Grimes, Armor's Health Services Administrator at Franklin County. "This is the standard our patients deserve," he added.
The Franklin County Correctional Facilities will serve as the model sites as Armor evaluates and expands the program. The company plans to phase ACE protocols into facilities nationwide, making structured geriatric care a company-wide standard rather than a single-facility initiative.
"Correctional healthcare has to evolve with the population we serve," continued Dr. Fernandez. "Older adults have unique clinical needs, and we believe those needs require a deliberate and standardized approach. The ACE model gives our teams the framework to identify risks earlier, intervene sooner, and provide better care."
Armor Health remains committed to clinical innovation and developing care models that improve outcomes while strengthening healthcare operations inside correctional facilities nationwide.
About Armor Health - Armor Health is a leading provider of correctional healthcare services providing quality care to local correctional facilities across the country for more than 22 years. Every day, Armor provides evidence-based medical and mental health services revolutionizing the healthcare landscape utilizing its proprietary Insights Analytics, risk scoring, and predictive modeling. Powered by modern AI solutions from its partnership with Antidote-AI (Antidote-AI.com) our AI clinical tools, and our expert clinicians provide a laser focus on best-in-class interventions to deliver the right care, at the right time, in the right place to every patient we serve.
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