By Lynn Sander, MD, MPH
Posted on September 29, 2010 – Once again it is time for the annual issue with a focus on mental health. The lead article on dementia should prove illuminating and helpful as the aging population in our prisons and jails increases. We also have an interesting grouping of articles including an ethical dilemma, segregation of mental health patients, accompanied by one facility’s solution, and a guest commentary by Dr. Jeff Metzner who brought attention to this issue. Lastly, the article on being effective as an external medical director assisting a system improve its services provides an experienced viewpoint on this topic.
I am writing this column at the conclusion of the second annual Medical Director Boot Camp which took place in Boston, MA, July 9-10, sponsored jointly by NCCHC and SCP, and thought I would share with you information about the meeting. Based on the comments of last year’s participants, the conference was expanded to two full days, providing 15.5 CMEs. There were approximately 80 participants with experience ranging from 1 month to over 25 years in corrections. The general buzz was that the meeting was again an overwhelming success, with less experienced medical directors finding mentors, and even the more experienced stating that they learned something new. This year there were two tracks: one for the more experienced directors and one for those newer to the field. Topics covered at both levels included legal issues (ranging from employee problems to court cases), providing cost effective care, common pitfalls to avoid, peer review, workshops on CQI and protocol development, mental health, and working with custody and inmates.
Given the limited space of this column, I wish to share with you information from just one speaker, Scott Chavez, Vice President of NCCHC, who discussed the nine physician driven 2008 NCCHC standards to improve performance and eliminate waste. These nine standards all relate specifically to the quality of care in the institution: A-03 Medical Autonomy, A-06 CQI Program, C-02 Clinical Performance Enhancement, E-04 Receiving Screening, E-04 Initial Health Assessment, E-12 Continuity of Care during Incarceration, G-01 Chronic Disease Services, G-04 Basic Mental Health Services and G-05 Suicide Prevention Program. Although further elaboration on these standards is not possible here, carefully reviewing the above standards to assure your compliance may prove beneficial as all of these, except Medical Autonomy, have new or revised components. I hope the above sparks the interest of some to attend next year’s Boot Camp, and that many of you will join us in Las Vegas on Sunday, October 10, for SCP’s Annual Educational Conference.
Lynn Sander, MD, MPH
Editor
