NCJ Number
64730
Date Published
1978
Length
97 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A SURVEY THAT MEASURED HEALTH-CARE IMPROVEMENTS IN 20 PILOT JAILS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN AN AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PROJECT.
Abstract
THE REPORT FOCUSES ON THE COLLECTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 30 PILOT JAILS REPRESENTING SIX STATES AND THE CHANGES WHICH HAVE OCCURRED IN INMATE HEALTH CARE OVER THE 2 YEARS SINCE THE PROJECT'S BEGINNING IN 1975. OF THE 30 ORIGINAL PILOT SITES, 16 WERE FULLY ACCREDITED, FOUR WERE PROVISIONALLY ACCREDITED IN HEALTH CARE BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 1978; 6 DID NOT APPLY FOR ACCREDITATION, 1 APPLIED AND WAS TURNED DOWN, AND 3 WERE DROPPED FROM THE PROJECT IN THE FALL OF 1977. IMPROVEMENTS OCCURRED, HOWEVER, EVEN IN THOSE JAILS NOT ACHIEVING ACCREDITATION. OF THE 26 SITES REMAINING IN THE PROJECT, AVAILABILITY OF SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HEALTH-CARE SERVICES INCREASED FROM 82 TO 139 SERVICES, REPRESENTING A 70 PERCENT INCREASE IN IMPORTANT SERVICES. OF THE PARTICIPATING JAILS, THERE WAS AN INCREASE FROM 15 TO 21 JAILS THAT OFFERED CHRONIC AND CONVALESCENT CARE AND AN INCREASE FROM 7 TO 20 SITES PROVIDING ADEQUATE IN-HOUSE CLINICS. JAILS PROVIDING REGULAR 'SICK CALL' INCREASED FROM 12 TO 22; JAILS OFFERING DETOXIFICATION FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSERS INCREASED FROM 7 TO 21. THERE WAS ALSO IMPROVEMENT IN THE NUMBER OF SITES HAVING WRITTEN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON INMATE HEALTH CARE. MEDICAL PERSONNEL SERVING THE JAILS ALSO INCREASED IN NUMBER. DETAILED DATA FROM THE SURVEY ARE PROVIDED IN THE APPENDIXES. (RCB)