Northampton County Prison has again earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) by demonstrating compliance with NCCHC’s nationally recognized standards of care for correctional health services in jails.

Reaccreditation recognizes Northampton County Prison’s ongoing commitment to providing quality health services for the incarcerated population. To maintain NCCHC accreditation, Northampton County Prison underwent a rigorous professional assessment in June. During the assessment, a team of experienced physicians and experts in correctional health care surveyed the facility for compliance with jail-specific standards in several areas, such as patient care and treatment, health promotion, safety and disease prevention, governance, and administration, personnel and training, special needs and services, and medical-legal issues.

“We have a constitutional obligation to provide health care to those incarcerated in our jail, and we are committed to doing so with innovation, excellence, and efficiency,” says County Executive Lamont G. McClure. “I commend Northampton County Prison leadership, staff, and health care workers for their dedication to our patients.”

“I would particularly like to thank our health services provider PrimeCare Medical for working so diligently with us to maintain accreditation. For 24 years, PrimeCare Medical has been our partner in delivering the high-quality care that accreditation recognizes,” said James C. Kostura, Director of Northampton County Prison.

For 45 years, NCCHC’s highly respected standards have provided guidance to help correctional health professionals and administrators improve the health of their incarcerated populations and the communities to which they return, increase the efficiency of health services delivery, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and reduce the risk of adverse legal judgments. The consensus-based standards are developed in consultation with national experts in correctional health care, mental health, law, and corrections.

“In continuing to achieve NCCHC accreditation, Northampton County Prison has demonstrated its commitment to quality, standards-based correctional health care,” said Deborah Ross, CCHP, NCCHC chief executive officer. “Accreditation is a voluntary process, and we commend Northampton County Prison for successfully maintaining this distinction. The health of incarcerated people is a vitally important component of public health.”

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Brittney Waylen
Deputy Director of Administration & Public Information Officer
County of Northampton
669 Washington Street
Easton, PA 18042
https://www.northamptoncounty.org/

 

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