Program Example

Department of Public Health staff at both San Francisco General Hospital and the San Francisco County Jail have access to an electronic summary health record for those jail inmates identified as having a mental illness who have been treated in the public health system. The vast majority of treatment occurs within the jail itself, but some jail inmates are also treated in both psychiatric and medical facilities at the General Hospital.

The summary record is not a full record, but is rather made up of basic information such as clinical appointments and x-rays. The Department is in the process of converting to a new electronic medical record system that will make the complete record available to all providers in the system, including jail-based medical staff. Enabling jailbased medical staff access to complete medical records will foster improved disease prevention, as well as improved coordination with clinics that provide aftercare treatment.

Inmates have access to their summary health record on release upon request.