Management of Chronic Disease

Idaho
Department of
Correction

Standard
Operating
Procedure

Division of
Education
and
Treatment

Operational
Services
Control Number:
401.06.03.051
Version:
2.0
Page Number:
1 of 4
Adopted:
2-13-2008
Reviewed:
3-31-2008 Title:
Management of Chronic Disease

This document was approved by Dr. Mary Perrien, c hief of the Division of
Education and Treatment, on 3/31/08 (signature on file).
BOARD OF CORRECTION IDAPA RULE NUMBER 401
Medical Care
POLICY STATEMENT NUMBER 401
Hospitalization, Institutional Clinical Services, and Treatment
POLICY DOCUMENT NUMBER 401
Hospitalization, Institutional Clinical Services, and Treatment
DEFINITIONS
Standardized Definitions List
Chronic Disease: An illness or condition that (1) affects an individual’s well-being for an
extended interval, usually at least six months, and (2) is generally not curable but can be
managed to provide optimum functioning within any limitations the condition imposes on the
individual.
Chronic Disease Program: A program that consists of regular clinic visits that incorporate a
treatment plan in which a licensed medical provider monitors the patient’s progress during
clinic visits and, when necessary, changes the treatment. The program a lso includes patient
education for symptom management.
Clinical Practice Guideline: A systematically developed, science-based statement
designed to assist the practitioner and patient with decisions about appropriate health care
for specific clinical circ umstances.
Contract Medical Provider: A private company under contract with the Department to
provide comprehensive medical, dental, and/or mental health services to the incarcerated
offender population. A contract medical provider may include private prison companies and
other entities under contract with the Department to operate the Idaho Correctional Center
(ICC) and other out-of-state facilities housing Department offenders.
Facility Health Authority: The contract medical provider employee who is primarily
responsible for overseeing the delivery of medical services in an Idaho Department of
Correction (IDOC) facility.
Control Number:
401.06.03.051
Version:
2.0
Title:
Management of Chronic Disease
Page Number:
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Health Authority: The Department employee who is primarily responsible for overseeing or
managing the Department’s medical and mental health services. The health authority is
commonly referred to as the health services director.
National Clinical Practice Guideline: Guidelines presented by the national professional
organizations accepted by experts in the respective medical field .
Treatment Plan: A series of written statements specifying a patient’s particular course of
therapy and the roles of qualified healthcare profess ionals in carrying it out.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this standard operating procedure (SOP) is to establish a program to identify
patients with chronic diseases, with the goal of decreasing the frequency and severity of
symptoms, including preventing diseas e progression and fostering improvement in function.
SCOPE
This SOP applies to all Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) employees, offenders,
contract medical providers and subcontractors .
RESPONSIBILITY
Health Authority
The health authority is responsible for:
• Monitoring and overseeing all aspects of healthcare services,
• The implementation and continued practice of the provisions contained in this SOP,
and
• Mandating the use of specific clinical practice guidelines.
Note: When services are privatized, the health authority will also be responsible for
reviewing and approving (prior to implementation) all national clinical practice guidelines.
Contract Medical Provider
When services are privatized, the contract medical provider is responsible for:
• Implementing and practic ing all provisions of this SOP, unless specifically exempted
by written contractual agreements ;
• Ensuring their medical director establishes clinical protocols consistent with national
clinical practice guidelines promulgated by experts in the field; and
• Submitting each clinical practice guideline to the health authority for review and
approval prior to implementation.
In addition, the contract medical provider will ensure that the processes are conducted in
accordance with National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standard
P-G-02, Management of Chronic Disease, and any additional requirements stated in this
SOP or included in their respective contractual agreement(s).
Note: Nothing in this SOP shall be construed to relieve the contract medical provider(s)
of any obligation and/or responsibility stipulated in respective contractual agreements.
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401.06.03.051
Version:
2.0
Title:
Management of Chronic Disease
Page Number:
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Facility Medical Director
The facility medical director will be responsible for:
• Establishing clinical protocols consistent with approved national clinical practice
guidelines ,
• Supervising all qualified healthcare professionals who utilize the protocols,
• Ensuring all practices are consistent with written guidelines , and
• Annually approving chronic disease protocols.
Facility Health Authority
The facility health authority will be responsible for:
• Establishing and monitoring a system to ensure continuity of medications for chronic
diseases;
• Establishing and monitoring procedures to ensure that documentation in the medical
record confirms that qualified healthcare professionals are following chronic disease
protocols (when clinically indicated, the facility health authority must ensure deviation
from the protocols are explained in the medical record);
• Maintaining a current list of chronically ill patients, and providing the list to the health
authority upon request; and
• In conjunction with the facility medical director, ensuring the presence and
functionality of all resources necessary to support the chronic disease program are
available.
Table of Contents
General Requirements .............................................................................................................. 3
1. Monitoring Patients who have Chronic Illnesses or Diseases ........................................... 3
2. Compliance ......................................................................................................................... 4
References ................................................................................................................................ 4
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Monitoring Patients who have Chronic Illnesses or Diseases
The responsible licensed medical provider shall monitor patients who have a chronic illness
or disease at regular intervals to assure continuity and quality of care. Included among
chronically ill patients are, but not limited to, the following: asthma/respiratory, diabetes, high
blood cholesterol, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hypertension, seizure disorder, and
tuberculosis (TB).
A written treatment plan will be developed by a licensed medical provider at the time the
condition is identified, updated when warranted, and will include, at a minimum:
• Medication;
• The type and frequency of diagnostic testing and therapeutic regimens;
• The frequency of follow-up for medical evaluation and adjustment of treatment
modality;
Control Number:
401.06.03.051
Version:
2.0
Title:
Management of Chronic Disease
Page Number:
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• Diet and exercise, when appropriate; and
• Adaptation to the correctional environment.
2. Compliance
Compliance with this SOP and all related Department -approved protocols will be monitored
by the health authority (or designee) by using various sources to include: this SOP, clinical
practice guidelines, routine reports, program reviews, and record reviews.
REFERENCES
National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), Standard P-G-02,
Management of Chronic Disease
– End of Document –