Read the Chart Before the Jury Does
Most jail litigation traces back to medical or behavioral health care. Despite the fact that custody staff are not medical professionals, administration is generally on the hook for any medical misses in the jail. Know what is happening inside your facility before an attorney or jury points it out.
Add medical charts to document reviews
Anyone should be able to pick up a medical chart and get an understanding of the story, even non-medical staff. If the chart does paint a clear picture, that is a problem. Review medical charts in the same way other documentation reviews are conducted. Focus on whether documentation is understandable. Ask:
Are complaints addressed timely?
Is follow-up occurring?
Are patterns emerging by unit or housing location?
If a chart is unclear or incomplete, custody staff should escalate up the officer chain of command. Medical documentation can show gaps in care, missed follow-up, unclear decisions, or signs that no one was paying attention. Include medical charts in document reviews.
Hold weekly custody meetings
Follow up on chart reviews with weekly custody meetings. Include representation from custody, medical, behavioral health, food service, supervision, and court partners as appropriate. Meetings should highlight:
The 5 sickest individuals in the facility
Detainees in segregation or specialized housing
Detainees on medical or behavioral health observation
Any questions arising from chart reviews
Weekly custody meetings give real-time insight into how medical and behavioral health services are functioning inside the jail and provide an opportunity for custody and health care staff to collaborate. Hold weekly custody meetings.
For more information, please contact training@sparktraining.us.
Disclaimer
All materials have been prepared for general information purposes only. The information presented should be treated as guidelines, not rules. The information presented is not intended to establish a standard of medical care and is not a substitute for common sense. The information presented is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such, may not be current, and is subject to change without notice. Each situation should be addressed on a case-by-case basis. When in doubt, send them out!®
