Press Release -Correctional Medical Programs Maintain Accreditation

Correctional Medical Programs Maintain Accreditation

(Santa Ana) - The Orange County correctional healthcare system has been granted renewal of its accreditation by the California Medical Association's Institute for Medical Quality, retaining its status as the largest accredited correctional healthcare system in the state of California.

The Orange County correctional healthcare system is also the fifth largest in the nation to have achieved healthcare program accreditation. The County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) provides health services to the correctional system through the Correctional Medical Services and Correctional Mental Health Services programs. According to Institutional Health Services Division Manager Frank Madrigal, "Achieving accreditation is a direct result of excellent team work between the Health Care Agency staff and the Sheriff-Coroner Department. We are proud of their achievements."

An eight-member team from the California Medical Association reviewed the combined efforts of HCA and the Orange County Sheriff's Department in December 2000. The accreditation team, consisting of physicians, psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals, spent two days at the five correctional healthcare facilities, interviewing HCA and Sheriff's Department staff in addition to inmates. The survey to evaluate the quality of inmate medical care included inspection of the medical facilities, a review of medical records and an evaluation of healthcare policies and procedures.

Innovative efforts like the Suicide Prevention Program are shared with other California detention facilities as models for improving healthcare services. Correctional Medical and Correctional Mental Health Services also received honorable mention recognition from the California State Association of Counties in 1998 for first achieving accreditation of the correctional healthcare programs.

# # #