|
Guidelines for Disease Management
|
Updated Guidelines |
|
New
juvenile guidelines
address obesity and sickle cell disease. |
|
Forms for
Chronic Care |
|
Three forms, along
with instructions for use, are the final pieces in a
program for monitoring chronic diseases. |
The National Commission on Correctional
Health Care has adopted several guidelines to help correctional
health care professionals effectively manage diseases commonly
found in jails, prisons and juvenile confinement facilities. The
guidelines are adapted for the correctional setting from
nationally accepted clinical guidelines prepared by other
organizations, including the National Institutes of Health; the
American Diabetes Association; the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
The guidelines were born of a study on the
health needs of soon-to-be-released inmates, which was released
to Congress in 2002. In a cooperative agreement with the
National Institute of Justice, NCCHC reviewed national clinical
guidelines and found that none addressed the unique challenges
of providing care in correctional settings. To remedy this,
NCCHC established a panel of experts to review existing
guidelines, evidence-based medical practices and other reference
materials, and adapt the materials for use by correctional
health care professionals.
The guidelines encourage total disease
management, which requires clear indicators of the degree of
control of the patient’s disease and, frequently, the more
subtle distinction as to whether the condition is stable,
improving or deteriorating. The guidelines also highlight barriers to appropriate treatment commonly
found in correctional facilities. However, the guidelines cannot
and do not substitute for clinical professional
judgment based on a specific patient's presentation.
The guidelines are reviewed routinely by NCCHC
and updated periodically. Be sure also to download the
Definitions
of Disease Control and Clinical Status.
Streamlined Format
The
Guidelines for Disease Management in Correctional Settings
feature streamlined content that is meant to supplement
—
not replace —
nationally accepted clinical guidelines from federal or
specialty organizations. With a focus on
the challenges and special considerations inherent in
correctional settings, they are designed to help correctional
health care providers improve patient care outcomes. Each
guideline provides a list of recommended resources to support
evidence-based practice and quality improvement.
The
guidelines posted below were reviewed and, as necessary, updated
in mid-2011.
Some
guidelines remain under review and will be issued as
they are available.
|
