Standards for health services in Australian prisons
RACGP Standards for health services in Australian prisons (1st edition)
People incarcerated in Australian prisons or detained in custody often face complex problems with their health and wellbeing. These problems can stem from a myriad of sources including the individual’s cultural, religious and sociopolitical background, as well as their understanding of health and illness and any previous experience of the prison system.
It is acknowledged that health services in Australian prisons are run by the relevant state or territory department of health or department of justice (Victoria only). However, the RACGP Standards for health services in Australian prisons (the Standards) are designed to support general practitioners working to achieve better health outcomes for people incarcerated in Australian prisons or detained in custody.
Following the release of the RACGP Standards for health services in Australian immigration detention centres, GPs working in the area of custodial health recommended that the College develop a comparable set of standards to accommodate the special circumstances and challenges facing health services in Australian prisons.
Copyright Notice
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Preamble
SERVICES
Standard 1.1 ACCESS TO CARE
Our service provides timely care and advice.
Criterion 1.1.1 Scheduling care in opening hours
Criterion 1.1.2 Visits to patient living quarters by appropriate clinical staff members
Criterion 1.1.3 Care outside normal opening hours
Standard 1.2 INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH SERVICE
Our service provides the opportunity for patients to communicate their health problems and concerns, and to receive sufficient information to enable them to make informed decisions regarding their care.
Criterion 1.2.1 Health service information
Criterion 1.2.2 Informed patient decisions
Criterion 1.2.3 Interpreter services
Standard 1.3 HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION OF DISEASE
Our service provides health promotion and illness prevention services that are based on best available evidence.
Criterion 1.3.1 Health promotion and preventive care
Standard 1.4 DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF SPECIFIC HEALTH PROBLEMS
Our service provides patient care that is effective, and in broad agreement with best available evidence.
Criterion 1.4.1 Evidence based practice
Criterion 1.4.2 Clinical autonomy for medical and other clinical staff
Standard 1.5 CONTINUITY OF CARE
Our service provides continuity of care for our patients.
Criterion 1.5.1 Continuity of comprehensive care
Criterion 1.5.2 Continuity of the therapeutic relationship
Criterion 1.5.3 Consistent approach
Criterion 1.5.4 System for follow up of tests and results
Standard 1.6 COORDINATION OF CARE
Our service engages with a range of relevant external services to improve patient care.
Criterion 1.6.1 Engaging with other services
Criterion 1.6.2 Referral documents
Standard 1.7 CONTENT OF PATIENT HEALTH RECORDS
Our patient health records contain sufficient information to identify the patient and to document the reason for visit, assessment, management, progress and outcomes.
Criterion 1.7.1 Patient health records
Criterion 1.7.2 Health summaries
Criterion 1.7.3 Consultation notes
RIGHTS AND NEEDS OF PATIENTS
Standard 2.1 COLLABORATING WITH PATIENTS
Our health service respects the rights and needs of patients.
Criterion 2.1.1 Respectful and culturally appropriate care
Criterion 2.1.2 Patient feedback
Criterion 2.1.3 Presence of a third party
SAFETY, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND EDUCATION
Standard 3.1 SAFETY AND QUALITY
Our health service is committed to quality improvement.
Criterion 3.1.1 Quality improvement activities
Criterion 3.1.2 Clinical risk management system
Standard 3.2 EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Our health service supports quality improvement through education and training.
Criterion 3.2.1 Medical staff qualifications and training
Criterion 3.2.2 Qualifications and training of other staff with clinical roles
Criterion 3.2.3 Training of administrative staff
HEALTH SERVICE MANAGEMENT
Standard 4.1 HEALTH SERVICE SYSTEMS
Our health service demonstrates effective human resource management processes.
Criterion 4.1.1 Human resource system
Criterion 4.1.2 Occupational health and safety
Standard 4.2 MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH INFORMATION
Our health service has an effective system for managing patient information.
Criterion 4.2.1 Confidentiality and privacy of health information
Criterion 4.2.2 Information security
Criterion 4.2.3 Transfer of patient health information
Criterion 4.2.4 Retention of patient health information
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Standard 5.1 FACILITIES AND ACCESS
Our health service provides a safe and effective working environment for our team.
Criterion 5.1.1 Health service facilities
Criterion 5.1.2 Physical conditions conducive to confidentiality and privacy
Criterion 5.1.3 Physical access
Standard 5.2 EQUIPMENT FOR COMPREHENSIVE CARE
Our health service provides medical equipment and other resources that are well maintained and appropriate for comprehensive patient care and resuscitation.
Criterion 5.2.1 Health service equipment
Criterion 5.2.2 Doctor's bag/emergency trolley
Standard 5.3 CLINICAL SUPPORT PROCESSES
Our health service has processes in place that support the safety and quality of clinical care.
Criterion 5.3.1 Medicines
Criterion 5.3.2 Vaccine potency
Criterion 5.3.3 Perishable materials
Criterion 5.3.4 Infection control
Appendix A The principles of quality and safety in the Standards for health services in Australian prisons
Glossary of terms
References
Your feedback is welcome
The RACGP welcomes feedback on the RACGP Standards for health services in Australian prisons. Please forward your feedback to:
Chair, National Expert Committee on Standards for General Practices
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
1 Palmerston Crescent
South Melbourne Victoria 3205