Caring for violent LTC residents focus of AMA effort

Long-term care (LTC) and correctional care providers should work together to develop national best practices to guide caring for those with violent criminal backgrounds or violent tendencies in LTC facilities while ensuring the safety of all residents, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). The organization, at the interim meeting of its delegates this week, passed a resolution that had been put forth by the LTC physicians group AMDA.

“We took AMDA’s concerns regarding LTC residents with criminal backgrounds to the AMA in 2011, and now the AMA Council on Medical Service has served up a complete report with five new policies that were adopted by the AMA on the subject,” says Eric Tangalos, MD, CMD, AMDA past president and AMA delegate.

The report also recommends:

• Conducting research on approaches to care planning and risk management based on patient history and background;
• Conducting research on potential liabilities for providers caring for residents with criminal backgrounds; and
• Developing policies and guidelines on how to transition those recently released from prison to LTC facilities while considering their individual histories.

The report cites stakeholders including the AMDA, the Society of Correctional Physicians, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, the American Psychiatric Association, LTC advocacy groups and offender advocacy groups.

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Lois Bowers

Lois A. Bowers was senior editor of I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living from 2013-2015.