KOP (Keep-On-Person) medications are prescription drugs that incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities are permitted to self-carry and self-administer without needing a medical professional to dispense each dose. These medications generally include low-risk treatments such as antacids, allergy medications, topical ointments, or maintenance drugs for chronic conditions.
KOP programs are developed to encourage patient autonomy, reduce the time healthcare staff spend distributing medications, and improve continuity of care within correctional settings. Effective KOP management relies on clear protocols for medication handling, tracking, and oversight to ensure safety and efficiency throughout the facility.
In correctional healthcare, managing limited resources while maintaining high standards of care and safety is a constant balancing act. KOP medications offer a practical approach to alleviate some of that pressure by assigning stable, low-risk patients more responsibility for their medication use.
A well-structured KOP program reduces strain on daily operations by limiting the number of individuals who need to report to medication lines, all while encouraging patient self-management. For effectiveness, these programs must be backed by consistent documentation, eligibility screening, and routine monitoring to minimize risk and ensure compliance.
KOP programs begin with a clinician evaluating whether a patient meets clinical and behavioral benchmarks that allow for responsible self-administration. Once approved, the medication is dispensed in secure, labeled packaging and stored by the inmate in their living area.
The issuance is logged in the medical record, and follow-up reassessment dates are scheduled.
Staff must also provide clear instructions to the patient, both verbally and in writing. Cooperation with custody staff is vital to enforcing program rules and resolving any issues related to diversion or safety concerns.
By reducing the number of individuals waiting in line for nurse-administered doses, KOP programs significantly alleviate the workload associated with routine med passes, especially in higher-volume facilities. Clinical staff can reallocate time to more complex care needs, thereby increasing overall service capacity.
However, these operational gains rely heavily on having an integrated system that tracks every step: eligibility, distribution, documentation, inventory, and necessary alerts. Without that framework, the risk of audit failures or clinical missteps rises quickly.
CorrecTek’s electronic health record platform is designed specifically to support correctional healthcare workflows, including the detailed oversight required for KOP medication management. Our system enables providers to set customized eligibility criteria, maintain accurate logs, and trigger automated alerts for renewals or reviews.
Built-in functionality allows for smooth collaboration between clinical and custody teams, ensuring medications are dispensed, tracked, and reviewed in accordance with each facility’s established protocols. Reports and audit tools further simplify compliance and accountability.
Whether you’re implementing a new KOP program or tightening control over an existing one, CorrecTek offers the transparency and control needed to achieve safer, more efficient medication operations. Connect with us today to learn how our solution can strengthen your facility’s medication management systems.