NCJ Number
59433
Date Published
1979
Length
35 pages
Annotation
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATIVE TO THE MEDICAL CARE AND TREATMENT OF ALL INMATES OF THE HARRIS COUNTY (TEX.) JAIL SYSTEM ARE PRESENTED; TOPICS INCLUDE ACUTE CARE, EMERGENCY CARE, AND INTAKE SCREENING.
Abstract
THE MEDICAL DIVISION SHALL BE SUPERVISED BY A FULL-TIME PHYSICIAN, LICENSED BY THE TEXAS STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS, WHO SHALL BE DESIGNATED 'MEDICAL DIRECTOR.' HE SHALL REPORT TO THE MAJOR, CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION BUREAU, CONCERNING ROUTINE MATTERS PERTAINING TO INMATE MEDICAL SERVICES AND RELATED SECURITY MATTERS; MAJOR ISSUES MAY BE REPORTED DIRECTLY TO THE SHERIFF, THROUGH THE CHIEF DEPUTY. THE DIRECTOR WILL BE ASSISTED BY QUALIFIED MEDICAL PERSONNEL SUPPORT, SUCH AS PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS, INTERNISTS, AND NURSES, AS AUTHORIZED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT. THE DIRECTOR WILL FREQUENTLY VISIT ALL FACILITIES HOUSING PERSONS IN THE SHERIFF'S CUSTODY TO EXAMINE INMATES, REVIEW THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM, AND OBSERVE THE HEALTH ENVIRONMENT. FOLLOWING THE SHOWER AND STRIP SEARCH, EACH INMATE SHALL HAVE A MEDICAL AND DENTAL SCREENING EXAMINATION. A PHYSICIAN OR PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT WILL CONDUCT THE EXAMINATION, INCLUDING CHECKS OF THE HEAD, EARS, AND EYES; CHEST X-RAY; URINE SAMPLE ANALYSIS; AND BLOOD TESTS. SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS AS WELL AS MEDICAL HISTORY WILL BE RECORDED. SPECIFIC PROCEDURES AND POLICIES ARE DESCRIBED FOR ACUTE, CHRONIC, CONVALESCENT, AND EMERGENCY CARE. FOR EXAMPLE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT BOTH MAIN FACILITIES 24 HOURS A DAY; INITIAL CARE WILL BE PROVIDED BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ON DUTY IN THE MEDICAL CLINICS. PROCEDURES RELATIVE TO SPECIAL INMATES SUCH AS DIABETICS, THE MENTALLY ILL, EPILEPTICS, CARDIAC PATIENTS, AND INMATES WITH CERTAIN CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ARE DESCRIBED. IN ALL CASES, INMATES DESIRING MEDICAL TREATMENT WILL BE ACCORDED THE SAME RIGHTS TO BODILY INTEGRITY AS IF THEY HAD PRESENTED THEMSELVES TO AN OUTSIDE HOSPITAL FACILITY. NUMEROUS FORMS ARE APPENDED.