KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - The King County Jail system’s ongoing improvements in providing quality health care were recently recognized with the renewal of their national accreditation for health care operations.

An independent panel of nurse and physician auditors evaluated the jail health operations on site, based on rigorous national standards set by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). Nationally, about 20 percent of inmates in jails and prisons are in NCCHC-accredited facilities.

"Accreditation is difficult to achieve, and only a fraction of jails receive it,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. "This accomplishment would not have been possible without the efforts of staff across the jail to continually improve our facility and the services we provide. They care deeply and work hard to ensure the safety and health of the inmates in our custody and this accreditation shows the hard work is really making a difference."

Areas assessed by NCCHC include: inmate care and treatment; health promotion and disease prevention; managing a safe and healthy environment; personnel and training; health services and support; special needs and services; health records; medical and legal issues; and governance and administration.

Operations at both the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle and the Regional Justice Center (RJC) in Kent were evaluated. Out of 35 essential standards applicable to the KCCF, 33 were found to be in full compliance at the time of the visit, and 32 out of 34 applicable standards at the RJC.

On June 20, the NCCHC Accreditation Committee voted to re-accredit both facilities based on the findings of the site visits, with the condition that two essential standards for each facility, health assessment and oral care, are in full compliance by September 30, 2008. Jail Health staff have made significant progress on both standards and are committed to meeting the deadline.

The accreditation reflects Jail Health Services ongoing work to improve its systems of care. Activities include:

• Implementing an electronic health records system that allows medical providers and management to monitor, evaluate and improve the quality and efficiency of jail health care services.
  
  
• Updating clinical guidelines for a range of diseases such as diabetes, seizures and asthma, as well as for the identification and treatment of skin infections in order to enhance individual health management and facility disease control efforts
  
  
• Addressing staffing shortages and aggressively seeking qualified candidates
  
  
• Creating an enhanced training and a new orientation process for medical providers and nursing staff hired at the facilities

The NCCHC is a private nonprofit association that recognizes detention and correctional institutions that meet nationally accepted standards. Accreditation benefits incarcerated individuals by assuring adequate standards for health care. For more information on the NCCHC, visit www.ncchc.org.

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day.

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