STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR JAIL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE STRUCTURE (PEOPLE, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES) AND PROCESSES (HOW THE STRUCTURE WORKS) OF MEDICAL CARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE INMATES. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES SHOULD BE USED TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR NEW PERSONNEL, A READY REFERENCE ON PROCEDURES, STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT, AND AS A BASIS FOR EVALUATION TO ENSURE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT. INSTITUTIONAL HEALTH CARE REQUIRES OPERATING STANDARDS, BECAUSE IT INVOLVES MULTIPLE PROVIDERS OF MEDICAL CARE AND A REVOLVING PATIENT POPULATION. FURTHER, DOCUMENTATION OF WRITTEN PROCEDURES AND COMPLIANCE THERETO PROVIDE CONFORMITY TO LEGAL MANDATES REGARDING HEALTH CARE FOR INMATES. THE SHERIFF AND THE SHERIFF'S STAFF, TOGETHER WITH THE RESPONSIBLE PHYSICIAN, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. FORMALIZATION OF A JAIL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS ACCOMPLISHED BY ASSESSING THE EXISTING SYSTEM IN COMPARISON WITH THE 'STANDARDS FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH SERVICES IN JAILS.' STANDARDS EXIST FOR RECEIVING SCREENING; HEALTH APPRAISAL DATA COLLECTION; NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES; EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES; DECIDING THE EMERGENCY NATURE OF ILLNESS OR INJURY; PROVISION OF MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROSTHESES; FIRST AID; NOTIFICATION OF NEXT OF KIN OR LEGAL GUARDIAN IN CASE OF SERIOUS ILLNESS, INJURY, OR DEATH; CHRONIC CARE; CONVALESCENT CARE; MEDICAL PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE; SCREENING, REFERRAL, AND CARE OF MENTALLY ILL AND RETARDED INMATES; IMPLEMENTING THE SPECIAL MEDICAL PROGRAM; DELOUSING; DETOXIFICATION; AND PHARMACEUTICALS. CASE STUDIES ARE PROVIDED TO SHOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARDS FOR INMATES REQUIRING CLOSE MEDICAL SUPERVISION, ROUTINE DENTAL SERVICES, AND THE CONTROL OF MEDICATION PRESCRIPTIONS. RESOURCES ARE SUGGESTED FOR ESTABLISHING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR PARTICULAR AREAS OF A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. FOOTNOTES AND A REFERENCE NOTE ARE PROVIDED.