NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) - The Adams County Board of Supervisors has approved a $76,000 contract with an inmate health care provider for services for county jail inmates.

Board Attorney Scott Slover tells The Natchez Democrat (http://bit.ly/REHcU2 ) the 1-year contract with Southern Health Partners will bring a nurse practitioner to the jail Monday through Friday for four hours each day. A nurse practitioner will also be on call on the weekends.

The contract, approved on Tuesday, will also include the cost of medications.

Sheriff Chuck Mayfield says contracting with a company will allow the inmates to have more timely examinations.

Slover said the county is responsible for the health of its inmates while in custody, so proper health care is important, especially for liability reasons.

Information from: The Natchez Democrat, http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/

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