NCJ Number
53073
Date Published
1974
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THIS SURVEY OF CALIFORNIA STATE PRISON MEDICAL FACILITIES CONDUCTED BETWEEN MARCH AND APRIL 1974, REVEALS A NUMBER OF DEFICIENCIES. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP IMPROVE CONDITIONS AT THESE FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED.
Abstract
USING THE STATE'S ACCREDITATION STANDARDS FOR ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS, THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA STATE PRISON MEDICAL FACILITIES POINTS OUT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS AND DEFICIENCIES IN THE AREAS OF PATIENT CARE, HOSPITAL SERVICES, PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES, MEDICAL STAFF, QUALITY CONTROL, MEDICAL RECORDS, AND DENTAL SERVICES. THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL FACILITY AT VACAVILLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY. ALTHOUGH VARIOUS FINDINGS ARE SPECIFICALLY CITED, IT IS GENERALLY NOTED THAT THERE IS NO APPARENT OVERALL INTEGRATING PLAN FOR PRISON MEDICAL CARE, THAT FACILITIES SEEM RELATIVELY AUTONOMOUS WITH RESULTANT VARIATIONS IN PROCEDURES, QUALITY OF CARE, AND UTILIZATION OF STATE RESOURCES. ONE PRIME RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THERE BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE REORGANIZATION AT THE STATE LEVEL TO IMPROVE THE CLINICAL SUPERVISION OF PATIENT CARE IN ALL STATE PRISONS. SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN PATIENT CARE BY WAY OF A WELL-STOCKED DISPENSARY AVAILABLE 24-HOURS A DAY, REQUIRED INSERVICE TRAINING FOR MEDICAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS, IMMEDIATELY ACCESSIBLE EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE, AND UPGRADED INHOSPITAL CARE. THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL FACILITY AT VACAVILLE IS CITED AS A GUIDE FOR IMPROVING PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES AND MEDICAL RECORDS. QUALITY CONTROL INCLUDES THE USE OF PEER REVIEW, MEDICAL AUDIT, MORE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT FOR PRISON PHYSICIANS, INHOUSE EVALUATION OF MEDICAL STAFF BY THEIR OWN PERSONNEL, AND MORE ASSUMPTION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR QUALITY CONTROL BY LOCAL PRISONS. MORE EXTENSIVE DENTAL SERVICES ARE RECOMMENDED AND THE PROGRAM AT VACAVILLE IS CITED AS A MODEL. (FCW)