SPECIAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Oftalmologica 2016 September;58(3):52-60

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Organization and emergency evaluation of the ophthalmology service in a penitentiary structure: the experience of Cuneo public health service

Alessandro G. ACTIS, Gabriella TURCO, Giuseppe BAFUMO

ASL Cuneo 1, Specialistica Ambulatoriale, Servizio Aziendale Tutela della Salute in Ambito Penitenziario, Cuneo, Italy

Eye service within a penitentiary has several critical issues, primarily the correct assessment of urgency by the general physician (usually always in service): it is necessary to move police officers and transport the patient in an emergency department or the patient can wait for the ophthalmologist when in duty? Moreover, consultations must contend with a poor instrumentation (if compared to an ophthalmology department) and with difficulty to prescribe exams outside of the penitentiary structure. The ophthalmologist operating in a prison has to focus on the essentials, trying to follow the modern guidelines. Aim of this paper was to give some ideas to discuss about.