Models for Health Care in Small Jails (From National Conference on Medical Care and Health Services in Correctional Institutions, 3rd Proceedings, p 131-136, 1979 - See NCJ-91157)

• NCJ Number: 91164
• Author(s): D Wenger
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-91157

Annotation

This paper presents an overview of the American Medical Association Standards for Health Services in Jails in the areas of administration, pharmaceuticals, health records, and medical legal issues; the Pennsylvania experience in implementation is examined.

Abstract

The administrative section contains standards pertinent to the responsible health authority, medical autonomy, administrative reports, policies and procedures, and health-trained correctional officers. The models for responsible health authority used in Pennsylvania are briefly described. The section on pharmaceuticals standards focuses on many aspects of management practice. Pennsylvania's problems with regard to the implementation of these standards included development of a formulary, the use of medications, and security checks. The main issues associated with standards for health records involve content and location. Pennsylvania has found that the omission of a receiving screening form is the most significant records problem in small jails. Pertinent to records location and access is the requirement that health records be kept confidential and under the control of the responsible health authority. Some major omissions in records have included laboratory findings, consent forms, release forms, and other items which may seem less crucial than the health history.