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Feb. 22, 2002
Jail health program receives national accreditation
King County Executive Ron Sims today announced that the Accreditation Committee of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) voted to continue to accredit both the King County Correctional Facility and the Regional Justice Center Detention Facility for compliance with NCCHC Standards for Health Care Services in Jails. This accreditation means that the jail has met national operational standards after a review of independent auditors comprised of nurses and physicians.
“Accreditation recognizes correctional facilities that demonstrate dedication and commitment to an efficient and well-managed system of health care services within a healthy, safe and secure correctional environment,” said Sims.
“The bar that is set for accreditation is very high, and I am proud of the hard work undertaken by our Public Health and Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention staff to meet these standards required by the independent commission.”
Using standards established by the health, legal, and correctional professions, this accreditation program involves an extremely rigorous process of external peer review. Areas reviewed include governance and administration; a safe and healthy environment; personnel and training; health services support; inmate care and treatment; health promotion and disease prevention; special needs and services; records and medical and legal issues.
The NCCHC, a private non-governmental association, grants public recognition to detention and correctional institutions that meet its nationally accepted standards. It also benefits incarcerated individuals by assuring them of adequate health care according to nationally accepted standards.
NCCHC accreditation is a very prestigious achievement. There are only 60 other large jails throughout the country that have been able to operate under compliance with all 68 standards to improve the quality of health care provided in jails, prisons and juvenile confinement facilities.
Related link: King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention
Updated: Feb. 22, 2002
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