CCHP flashcards
CCHP · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- NCCHC
- National Commission on Correctional Health Care: a nonprofit organization that publishes standards for health services in jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities and administers a voluntary accreditation program for correctional health care.
- Essential standards
- Standards rated A or B in the NCCHC manual; they represent the minimum compliance floor, and unmet essential standards must be corrected through a written plan for a facility to achieve or retain accreditation.
- Standard rating scale
- NCCHC rates standards A through E: A important, B important with an action plan, C desirable, D conditional on services existing, and E not applicable, with only A and B considered essential.
- Accreditation cycle
- NCCHC accreditation runs on a three-year cycle requiring an application, a self-survey against current standards, an on-site survey by NCCHC surveyors, and accreditation committee review before reaccreditation.
- Health authority
- The licensed physician (or designated clinician) accountable for the facility's health program, responsible for approving written policies, overseeing clinical care, and ensuring standards compliance.
- Intake health screening
- A screening completed within 24 hours of admission covering medical and mental health history, medications, suicide risk, communicable disease risk, and dental needs, which triggers a comprehensive assessment when positive.
- Comprehensive health assessment
- A full history and physical by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner within 7 days of admission for inmates who remain incarcerated, addressing chronic conditions and needed referrals.
- Sick call triage
- A documented system in which a nurse triages inmate requests for care, with urgent complaints seen the same day and routine complaints scheduled for clinician evaluation.
- Suicide prevention program
- A required program including intake screening, documented risk assessment, housing and observation levels matched to risk, staff training, and documented monitoring intervals for patients on suicide watch.
- Continuity of care
- The standard requiring continuation of medications and treatment on transfer or release, plus discharge planning and documented referrals for patients with chronic or serious conditions.
- Health record confidentiality
- The requirement that health records be kept separate from custody records, accessible only to authorized persons, and disclosed only with patient consent or a legally recognized exception.
- Infection control program
- A written program covering hand hygiene, sharps handling, communicable disease screening such as TB and HIV, isolation procedures, and outbreak reporting to public health authorities.
- Emergency response plan
- A written plan with accessible emergency equipment such as AED and oxygen, a defined emergency medical response time, documented drills, and staff trained in CPR and first aid.
- Chronic disease protocols
- Written protocols for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, HIV, and seizures, specifying monitoring parameters, medication refill procedures, and criteria for outside specialist referral.
- Medication administration policy
- A written policy requiring licensed personnel to administer medications with documented time, dose, and response, and requiring clinician approval and monitoring for keep-on-person self-medication.
- Policy and procedure manual
- A dated, signed health services manual reviewed at least annually by the health authority, covering intake screening, sick call, medications, emergencies, infection control, and chronic disease management.
- Staff training documentation
- Records showing initial and annual training in CPR, first aid, infection control, and emergency response for all staff, plus role-specific clinical training and verified licensure for clinicians.
- Quality improvement program
- A structured process for reviewing health care quality through indicators, chart audits, and mortality or sentinel event reviews, with documented findings and corrective actions reported to facility leadership.
- Mortality review
- A documented review of every inmate death, conducted to assess care delivered, identify system failures, and implement corrective actions, with findings reported to the health authority and administration.
- Grievance system
- A written process allowing inmates to file health care complaints, with documented review, response timelines, and tracking of patterns for quality improvement.
- Pharmacy services standard
- Requirements for medication procurement, storage, security, labeling, and disposal, plus a formulary or drug utilization review process overseen by the health authority or consulting pharmacist.
- Diagnostic services
- Standards requiring access to laboratory and radiology services with documented ordering, timely results reporting to clinicians, and inclusion of results in the health record.
- Specialty referral process
- A documented system for referring inmates to outside specialists, including scheduling, transport coordination, and return of consultation reports to the facility health record.
- Dental services standard
- Requirements for intake dental screening, access to routine and urgent dental care, documented treatment planning, and a system for handling dental emergencies.
- Mental health screening
- Intake screening for mental health history, current symptoms, and suicide risk, with referral to a qualified mental health professional for further assessment when indicated.
- Restraint and seclusion
- Standards requiring clinician involvement and documented monitoring when restraints or seclusion are used for medical or mental health reasons, including periodic reassessment and observation.
- Informed consent
- The requirement that inmates receive understandable information about proposed treatment, alternatives, and risks, and that consent be documented in the health record except in emergencies.
- Medical clearance
- A clinical assessment confirming an inmate is fit for housing, transport, or segregation, documented by a qualified health professional before placement in restrictive conditions.
- Segregation health review
- Periodic clinician review of inmates in segregated housing to assess medical and mental health status, document findings, and recommend modifications or removal when clinically indicated.
- Health services budget
- A documented financial plan for health care services reviewed by facility administration, ensuring adequate resources for staffing, medications, and outside referrals.
- Self-survey
- A facility's internal assessment against current NCCHC standards, completed before the on-site survey, that identifies compliance gaps and documents evidence of corrective action.
- Corrective action plan
- A written plan submitted for unmet essential standards, specifying the corrective steps, responsible persons, and completion timeline, subject to NCCHC review and verification.