NCJ Number
79939
Date Published
1981
Length
27 pages
Annotation
The third year of the American Medical Association's (AMA) pilot program to improve health care in United States jails is evaluated, based on a pre/post study of health care services in the demonstration sites, interviews with jail staff, and an examination of the long-term effects of accreditation.
Abstract
A pilot program to develop model health care delivery systems in jails and devise standards for jail care conducted by the AMA in 1976 and 1977 was so successful that the LEAA awarded a third grant to extend the project to additional States. The program began with 30 sites selected by 6 State medical societies, added 19 jails in the second year, and selected 94 more facilities from 10 other States for the third year. Because of reduced funding, levels of expected activity differed between the original 6 States and the 10 new areas. An outline of the evaluation's design and methodology focuses on the impact assessment measures. To assess change, each jail completed a questionnaire on compliance with standards at the beginning and end of the year. This data was verified by medical society staff. To determine why some jails were able to improve their health care systems sufficiently to receive AMA accreditation while others could not, 10 jails of varying sizes were studied intensively. The evaluators also tried to analyze the program's lasting effects by examining the status of health care systems in jails previously accredited. The evaluation concluded that the AMA achieved its third year goals since 34 facilities in the third year group were accredited and an additional 31 jails made improvements in their health care services. Accreditation was also won by four of the original sites during the year, and most facilities which had already been accredited were able to sustain their improvements. Most medical and correctional staff had high praise for the technical assistance received from AMA State project directors. The intensive study of 10 sites revealed that cooperation and support from the local medical community were key determinants in a jail's achieving accreditation. Footnotes identify participating States and funding allocations. Tables and 10 references are included.