The 72 standards are grouped under nine general areas: governance and administration, managing a safe and healthy environment, personnel and training, health care services support, inmate care and treatment, health promotion and disease prevention, special needs and services, health records, and medical-legal issues. The standards are also classified as either essential or important and include 37 essential standards and 35 important standards. Essential standards are more directly related to the health, safety, and welfare of inmates and to critical components of the health care system. Important standards represent recognized and acceptable practices for health care providers. The standards are intended for use in evaluating health services in prisons of all sizes. It is envisioned that the standards will lead to increased efficiency in health service delivery, greater organizational effectiveness, better overall health protection for inmates, reduced risk of liability related to health services, and NCCHC health services accreditation. Appendixes contain sample policies and procedures, sample forms, examples of quality improvement, age charts for periodic health examinations, suicide prevention guidelines, nutrition guidelines, position statements, examples of infection control techniques, Federal regulations on medical research in correctional facilities, assessment protocols and therapeutic guidelines, health care accreditation information, and a description of the Certified Correctional Health Professional Program. References and forms