NCJ Number
27342
Date Published
1975
Length
270 pages
Annotation
THIS GUIDE TO CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY IN THE AREAS OF MEDICAL ASPECTS, HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND JUVENILES, AND JAIL HEALTH CARE.
Abstract
THE FIRST CONCERN OF THIS STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE HOW CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF INMATES. A NATIONWIDE TOUR OF CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES WAS CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. ALSO INTERVIEWS WERE HELD WITH A BROAD RANGE OF PERSONNEL DIRECTLY ENGAGED IN DELIVERING HEALTH CARE, FROM MEDICAL ADMINISTRATORS TO PARAPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES IN OUTLYING CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THIS STUDY INCORPORATES A WIDE VARIETY OF SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT WHICH WERE OFFERED DURING THESE INTERVIEWS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION CONTAINED IN VARIOUS CORRECTIONAL MANUALS. MEDICAL ASPECTS OF CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE ARE FIRST DISCUSSED. AMONG THESE ARE THE ELEMENTS OF SOUND CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE; THE SUPPORTIVE MEDICAL SERVICES; LEVELS OF CARE; HEALTH CARE IN WOMEN'S, JUVENILE, AND MINIMUM-SECURITY INSTITUTIONS; AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN SHORT-TERM CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (JAILS). ASPECTS OF ORGANIZING A CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ARE THEN EXPLORED. THESE INCLUDE THE NEED FOR STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION, RECRUITING, TRAINING AND RETRAINING CORRECTIONAL HEALTH PERSONNEL, AND FINANCING CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE. FINALLY, OTHER CONSIDERATIONS SUCH AS INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS BETWEEN CORRECTIONAL STAFF AND INMATES, DENTAL CARE, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS, AND INMATE HEALTH EDUCATION ARE CONSIDERED.