HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93008_0373.,IREDELL COUNTY JAIL HEALTH PROGRAM 4350
October 1982
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4. A more suitable system of documentation of medicalcare willbe devised.
Inmates' request for sick call willbe collected in an orderly fashion and
documented for future reference. Forms for the actual sick call visit will
be modeled on those utilized in other county jails and will provide for con-
cise, accurate recording of care delivered. Documentation of medications
administered by the jailers, nurse practitioners, or physician willbe made on
the official health record.
5. When an inmate is incarcerated, the jailer will obtain a general medical history
and will also inquire as to the presence of symptoms of communicable diseases
(TB, STD, etc.). Depending on the results of this history and/or a physical
exam, the inmate in need of screening for communicable disease will be referred
to the Health Department.
6. Inmates in need of dental care will be seen by the nurse practitioner or
physician and referred to Dr. Turner, D.D.S., if necessary.
7. Inmates in need of psychiatric care (i.e., those who are potentially or known
suicidal or chose with severe drug dependence) willbe referred to the Tri -
County Mental Health Center personnel.
8. The following persons will not be accepted into the jail:
Those heavily bleeding or actively convulsing;
The overtly psychotic;
Those with altered mental states or unconsciousness, and
Females in active labor.
9. One of the functions of the nurse practitioner in the jailwill be to provide
in-service education to jail personnel regarding health care of inmates. The
plan is to ultimately have the jailers operate under a system of standing orders
so that if, for example, an inmate complains of a headache, he or she could
receive aspirin or Tylenol without having to wait for sick call. We realize
that jailers would need to be aware of medical complaints that could be potent-
ially serious and would thus require consultation with the nurse practitioner
or physician.
10. One immediate need in order co provide quality health care at the jail is for
the availability of a small variety of therapeutic diets. The present situ-
ation is that everyone receives the same diet regardless of his health status.
We would like to ac least be able to offer sodium restricted and diabetic diets
to the inmates who have those particular needs. These special diets will
have to be prescribed by the nurse practitioner or physician and could be easily
prepared by the cooks using a few special foods and simple diet manuals.
We believe that with the implementation of this plan, more comprehensive health
care can be provided to the inmates, thereby ultimately benefiting all of the
citizens of this county.