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Guidelines for Disease Management
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New Guidelines |
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The
NCCHC guidelines have a new, streamlined
format. Four revised guidelines are now available.
Learn more
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Forms for
Chronic Care |
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Three forms, along
with instructions for use, are the final pieces in a
program for monitoring chronic diseases. |
The National Commission on Correctional
Health Care has adopted several guidelines to help correctional
health care professionals effectively manage diseases commonly
found in jails, prisons and juvenile confinement facilities. The
guidelines are adapted for the correctional setting from
nationally accepted clinical guidelines prepared by other
organizations, including the National Institutes of Health; the
American Diabetes Association; the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
The guidelines were born of a study on the
health needs of soon-to-be-released inmates, which was released
to Congress in 2002. In a cooperative agreement with the
National Institute of Justice, NCCHC reviewed national clinical
guidelines and found that none addressed the unique challenges
of providing care in correctional settings. To remedy this,
NCCHC established a panel of experts to review existing
guidelines, evidence-based medical practices and other reference
materials, and adapt the materials for use by correctional
health care professionals.
The guidelines encourage total disease
management, which requires clear indicators of the degree of
control of the patient’s disease and, frequently, the more
subtle distinction as to whether the condition is stable,
improving or deteriorating. The guidelines also alert the health
care provider to barriers to appropriate treatment commonly
found in correctional facilities. However, the guidelines cannot
and do not substitute for individual clinical professional
judgment based on a specific patient's presentation.
The guidelines are reviewed routinely by NCCHC
and updated periodically. Be sure also to download the
Definitions
of Disease Control and Clinical Status.
New,
Streamlined Format
NCCHC’s Policy and Standards Committee has adopted a new,
streamlined format for its clinical guidelines. To be more
descriptive, they are now labeled “Guidelines for Disease
Management in Correctional Settings.” To date, the Guidelines
Subcommittee has issued four guidelines, all pertaining to adult
patients, addressing asthma, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and
hypertension.
The
guidelines aren’t meant to be a substitute for nationally
accepted clinical guidelines from federal or specialty
organizations. Rather, they are supplemental, with a focus on
the challenges and special considerations inherent in
correctional settings. They are designed to help correctional
health care providers improve patient care outcomes. Each
guideline provides a list of recommended resources to support
evidence-based practice and quality improvement.Note: Some
guidelines are under review and will be issued as soon as
they are available.
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