SLO County Jail receives national healthcare accreditation
The San Luis Obispo County Jail has received accreditation from a national group assessing correctional health care.
Physicians with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care assessed the jail for compliance with jail-specific standards in several areas, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
Among the areas evaluated were patient care and treatment, health promotion, safety and disease prevention, governance and administration, personnel and training, special needs and services and medical and legal issues, the release said.
“We have a constitutional obligation to provide health care to those in our jail, and we are committed to doing so with innovation, excellence and efficiency,” SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said in the release. “I salute our health care provider Wellpath, our custody staff, and leadership for their hard work and dedication on behalf of our patients.”
Jail accreditation has been a goal of the Sheriff’s Office for a long time, according to the release.
Accreditation became possible after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic had passed and through the joint efforts of jail staff and Wellpath contractors, the release said.
“This is a great example of the county and the Sheriff’s Office commitment to a safe and healthy County Jail that meets the changing and sometimes challenging demands of health care across the country,” Correctional Capt. Stephanie Landgraf said.
