NCJ Number
159185
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 57 Issue: 6 Dated: (October 1995) Pages: 78-81
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article explores some of the problems in and strategies for achieving equilibrium in correctional health services management, operations, risk prevention, and cost containment.
Abstract
Included among these strategies are integrating systems planning, management, and operation; implementing administrative controls; contracting private-sector providers; and using new health services technologies. Corrections is entering a time of escalating environmental change: economic, political, social, legal, and technological. These conditions require coordinated service planning, management, and operations that are flexible and responsive to the environment in which the institution resides. Continual environmental analysis affords the system the capability of identifying its strengths and weakness (internal analysis) and environmental opportunities and threats (external analysis) that will affect the system and its services. Managers of inmate health services delivery programs have begun implementing some administrative cost-control methods that include cost review and analysis; prior authorization procedures for off-site services; and review of on-site and off-site health services to evaluate level, location, and appropriateness of service delivery and use of service. The popularity of contracting for services (wholly contracted systems and individual services, such as specialty clinics and diagnostic services) has continued to grow as a way to achieve cost accountability and stability in service delivery. Some jurisdictions are exploring the use of new technologies to contain costs and improve service accessibility and productivity; these include an interactive video system integrated with biomedical telemetry, portable fluoroscopy units, automated medical information management, and on-line reference laboratory reporting. 1 reference