N.H. Admin. Code § Cor 502.01 - Health, and Medical Care in Departmental Facilities

(a) Medical care shall be provided to residents at each departmental facility. Medical care shall include services providing for the person's physical and behavioral well-being as well as treatment for specific diseases or infirmities.

(b) A physician licensed in New Hampshire by the board of medicine shall be designated the chief medical officer and shall be responsible for medical services and work cooperatively with the psychiatric medical doctor ensuring the provision of comprehensive healthcare.

(c) Residents arriving at a departmental facility shall receive a comprehensive medical examination within 14 days of arrival directed to the discovery of physical and behavioral health illness.

(d) Medical examinations shall include:

(1) Medical and behavioral health history;

(2) A physical examination;

(3) A dental examination;

(4) Diagnostic lab tests;

(5) Notation of apparent medical physical illnesses or accessibility issues;

(6) A determination of the physical ability of each resident for work; and

(7) A notation of referrals or recommended treatment for specific illnesses or accessibility issues.

(e) Based on the history and examination, a licensed medical provider shall prescribe any necessary treatment including referral or therapy.

(f) All medical services shall be performed by medical staff licensed in the State of New Hampshire under the general supervision of a licensed physician.

(g) The department shall include appropriately licensed medical staff to assure residents have full-time access to medical care. Medical care shall include provisions for the transfer of sick or injured residents to medical facilities as deemed medically necessary. Medical facilities shall include prison infirmaries and referrals to outside medical specialists, other licensed health care facilities, accredited hospitals, and the SPU.

(h) Medication shall be prescribed only by properly licensed physicians, physician assistants, or APRN providers. Such medications shall only be dispensed under the supervision of licensed pharmacists.

(i) Medications appropriately prescribed and dispensed as described above shall be administered in one of these methods:

(1) Self-administered by individuals;

(2) Self-administered by individuals under direct staff supervision; or

(3) Administered by medical staff.

(j) Medical records shall contain documentation concerning healthcare related encounters including, but not limited to, medical and behavioral health assessment and examinations, healthcare findings, and treatments.

(k) A routine sick call policy shall be established for each facility. Each resident shall be given an opportunity to request to report to sick call. When routine sick call is unavailable, or the resident is unable to personally transmit their medical concerns, corrections officers and other staff members shall transmit concerns to medical authorities. No one shall prevent residents from seeking medical help. Residents who, because of their custody or other status, are not able to visit the health services center to seek medical care on the schedule established, shall be visited in their cell or other convenient place by a medical professional who shall conduct an examination or perform any medical procedures as necessary. Documentation of medical concerns expressed and addressed shall be completed in the electronic health record.

(l) Medical personnel shall have available portable screens or other devices to insure adequate privacy during medical examinations and treatment. The medical services in-patient areas shall have a call system so that residents can summon medical help when they are confined in that facility. Nursing stations shall be so located that nurses can monitor the condition of the residents.

(m) Residents requiring monitoring shall be monitored by a trained individual. Residents housed in segregation or any other restricted status that prevents them from visiting sick call at the medical facility shall be visited at least once a day by a member of the medical staff. The chief medical officer shall report to the chief administrator of the facility or designee and the director of medical and forensic services or designee whenever the physical or behavioral health of a resident will be adversely affected by continued segregation or by any condition of confinement.

(n) The department shall ensure that there are written policies which detail the operations and procedures of departmental medical facilities, medical care, medical services, and medical treatment, and that they are reviewed at least 2 times each year, kept current, and followed.

Notes

N.H. Admin. Code § Cor 502.01

Derived from Volume XXXIX Number 24, Filed June 13, 2019, Proposed by #12793, Effective 5/25/2019, Expires 5/25/2029.