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Report to the Federal Court on the Status of the Health Services at the Washington State Penitentiary

NCJ Number
79490
Date Published
1981
Length
160 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are presented from an audit of the health services at the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP).
Abstract
Medical, nursing, dental, and mental health care at WSP were examined, as were the pharmacy, health records, and administrative operations. The prison facility as a whole, the infirmary, all clinical areas, and living areas were examined, including segregation, protective custody, and the minimum security building. Staff and inmates were interviewed. The primary general finding is that a high degree of progress has occurred in WSP's health care delivery in the last 2 years. Competent, board-certified, community-based physicians now comprise the medical staff at WSP. The dental staff are State employees, and all personnel employed in health care delivery are properly licensed. Physician supervision of mid-level practitioners is greatly improved, although not yet optimal. Major surgeries are now performed in local hospitals, with postoperative convalescent care at the WSP infirmary. Administrative functions, such as planning, problem identification, leadership, and organization with clearly defined lines of authority now exist where there had been none in 1978. Health records are being converted to a problem-oriented format, and the pharmacy is beginning to resolve a backlog of problems. Dental care appears to be of good quality and highly regarded by the residents interviewed. The recommendations offered are meant to fortify the beneficial changes, help correct specific problems, and maintain and spur movement toward a stable health care delivery system. (Author summary modified)