By Carrie Spencer
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Ohio's system of medical care for inmates suffers from poor employee morale, stress and inefficiencies - including the inability to properly assess the deaths of some prisoners, according to a consultant's report.

The report released Tuesday by Dr. Steven Spencer cited problems with prisoner medical care, including staff reductions, the lack of a central computer system for tracking data and poor communication between state administrators and medical contractors.

The state agrees with much of the report and is making changes, said Tom Stickrath, assistant director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

"There is plenty of room for improvement," he said.

The department can't adequately review inmate deaths because most take place after inmates are transferred to Ohio State University Medical Center, which the report said is "reportedly very reluctant" to provide medical records.