Clinical Protocols, Policies & Procedures
Clinical Protocols
CHC has developed standard clinical protocols; written instructions specifying the steps necessary when evaluating and responding to an inmate’s physical status for medical complaints and problems. The protocols comply with state statutes and regulations governing the scope of practice for the nurses and providers at each facility.
We ensure that each facility’s protocols are reviewed and signed by the facility provider and updated annually by our Chief Medical Officer. The standard protocol format may include questions to ask, specific exam criteria, assessment guidelines, and treatment procedures that direct the medical staff providing care based on the symptoms presented.
Most protocols include a separate Problem Oriented Record (POR) form on which the medical staff or provider captures information in customized Subjective Objective/Assessment/Plan/Education (SOAPE) note format. Completed POR’s are then filed in the inmate’s medical record. These protocols and their respective PORs facilitate the standardization of care, decrease healthcare costs and improve quality and service across the entire inmate population.
Policies and Procedures. Customized and Accredited.
At CHC, we developed a proprietary healthcare Policies and Procedures Manual (P&P Manual), based on the most current American Correctional Association (ACA) and National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standards, along with federal and state requirements. All necessary healthcare and administrative forms and reports are included in the P&P Manuals for use by on-site healthcare teams.
Within the bounds of legal requirements for medical and security procedures, P&P Manuals are subject to the review and approval of the facility administration. More importantly, P&P Manuals are customized based on each facility’s unique environment. P&P Manuals are located in the health services unit and are accessible at all times to healthcare team members, who are required to read and comply with the P&P Manuals.
We review our customized P&P Manuals yearly and make revisions and updates as needed. This review is conducted under the direction of our Chief Medical Officer and legal department, with approval of the facility administration.