Correctional Medicine

Abstract

The provision of quality medical care to individuals residing in jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities offers unique challenges and rewarding opportunities that many never consider. Care delivery to inmates is a noble public service that encompasses a wide spectrum of procedures and acute and chronic medical care. Emergency physicians possess the skill set and creative problem-solving that correctional health requires. Healthcare delivery in jails and prisons encompasses pre-screening before booking into custody, addressing acute medical issues, responding to acute injuries including trauma, suicide attempts, and overdoses, addressing chronic medical conditions, coordinating care with specialists, hospital transfer and return coordination, post-hospitalization follow-up, infectious disease control and treatment, substance withdrawal treatment and prevention, and pain management. Correctional health responsibilities range from providing solely acute care to providing rather comprehensive care and can include administrative roles like medical director for a single facility or Chief Medical Officer for a correctional healthcare system. Healthcare provision in jails can vary significantly depending on the size of the correctional institution and the scope of services that are provided onsite. Some jails and prisons have large infirmaries and offer onsite Med-Surg level care, and others transfer almost everything out to the local Emergency Room or hospital. The advantages and challenges of correctional health are discussed here along with a guide to exploring a career path in the field.