ABSTRACT
Mental health administrators in correctional facilities have the complex task of balancing the clinical needs of incarcerated individuals and the safety and security missions of the facilities. This article describes the various structures of mental health administration within correctional facilities, the tasks commonly required of these professionals, and the skills necessary to be effective in this role. This editorial discusses the legal framework for mental healthcare in jails and prisons, staffing, cost containment, quality assurance and quality improvement, accreditation, peer review, morbidity and mortality reviews, utilization management, medication formularies, electronic health records, and innovative strategies as they apply to administrators of mental health services in correctional facilities. Throughout this article, practices are also included that have been found to be of value for managing a correctional mental health system.
Subject(s)
Mental Health Services , Prisons , Humans , Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Mental Health Services/standards , Mental Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Prisons/organization & administration , Prisons/standards , Prisons/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Second-generation or ''atypical'' antipsychotics can cause metabolic derangements that lead to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. To potentially minimize these adverse effects, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - University Correctional HealthCare (UCHC) and the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJ DOC) created a metabolic monitoring program that was incorporated into the electronic medical record. This program is used statewide by UCHC psychiatrists working within the NJ DOC.
