Discharge planning and continuity of health care: findings from the San Francisco County Jail

Am J Public Health. 2008 Dec;98(12):2182-4. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.119669. Epub 2008 Apr 1.

Abstract

Continuity of health care among the formerly incarcerated is an emerging public health challenge. We used data from the San Francisco County Jail to determine whether discharge planning improves access to care on release. Inmates who were HIV positive and received discharge planning were 6 times more likely to have a regular source of care in the community compared with inmates with other chronic medical conditions, and they were as likely to have a regular source of care compared with the general San Francisco population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aftercare / organization & administration*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Chronic Disease / therapy
  • Continuity of Patient Care / organization & administration*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / therapy*
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Services Accessibility / organization & administration*
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medically Uninsured / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Morbidity
  • Patient Discharge* / standards
  • Patient Discharge* / statistics & numerical data
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data*
  • Public Health
  • San Francisco / epidemiology
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Total Quality Management / organization & administration