DHCA - Mental Health Services

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TeleMed We have telemed in each jail. We can connect to each doctor, nurse and office staff through our new broadband system, creating efficiencies and effective levels of health care management unheard of in the recent past. Telemedicine is the future of health care, especially in remote facilities such as many smaller county jails.	Mental Health Services National statistics indicate that over 50% processed into local detention facilities are suffering from some level of mental illness. States continue to reduce services for the mentally ill and an increasing number of citizens are not able to obtain mental health services. Through our system, inmates with suspected mental health needs are provided services including assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or referral, and a supportive environment during all stages of the incarceration period. The purpose of these procedures is to provide guidelines for screening and identifying inmates with mental health needs and to make every effort possible to keep inmates in the facility for treatment rather than sending them to an outside facility where they often return with expensive drugs that are often not necessary to stabilize mental health issues in a controlled environment such as a jail. This includes care related to mental illness or developmental disabilities. Intake Mental Health Screening A mental health screening at booking is conducted by corrections officers trained by our health care staff in what to look for with mental illness and/or suicide ideation, and is designed to identify obvious mental health needs that will be reported to health care staff within 24 hours so that appropriate services can be provided. Inmates in need of immediate care for serious and urgent mental health needs as identified by the intake screening are referred for evaluation by a qualified mental health professional as soon as possible, or a crisis team will be called to provide for immediate and appropriate mental health care. Comprehensive Mental Health Evaluation A comprehensive mental health evaluation will be completed on every inmate processed into the facility within 14 days of arrival. The evaluation will include at least: Review of initial intake mental health screening data. Collection and review of additional data from staff observation, individual diagnostic interview and tests assessing intellect and coping abilities. Compilation of an inmate’s mental health history and direct observation of behavior. If mental health services are determined to be clinically necessary, development of an overall treatment and/or management plan with appropriate referral will be completed within 14 days of evaluation. Mental health services will be provided by our mental health professional staff who meet education and licensure/certification criteria specified by their respective professional disciplines (i.e., psychiatric nurses, Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner, and social workers). All such persons will be limited in their functioning to their areas of professional licensure/certification. Mental Health Information for Inmates Upon arrival at a facility, inmates are informed verbally and in writing of the mental health services available, how to request them, and are informed of the policy concerning confidentiality. Each facility's inmate handbook includes the above information and is conveyed in a language understandable by inmates. Minimum services include crisis intervention and pharmaceuticals. Inmates receiving psychotropic medications are examined periodically by physician services and nursing staff, and are assessed by a qualified mental health professional to ensure that as long as they are incarcerated their mental health is sufficiently stable to not create a danger to the inmate, security staff, or health care personnel. Home \| About Us \| Medical Services \| Mental Health Services \| Dental Services \| Pharmacy Employment \| Contact Us This site was last updated 07/21/08

TeleMed

We have telemed in each jail.

We can connect to each doctor, nurse and office staff through our new broadband system, creating efficiencies and effective levels of health care management unheard of in the recent past. Telemedicine is the future of health care, especially in remote facilities such as many smaller county jails.

Mental Health Services

National statistics indicate that over 50% processed into local detention facilities are suffering from some level of mental illness. States continue to reduce services for the mentally ill and an increasing number of citizens are not able to obtain mental health services.

Through our system, inmates with suspected mental health needs are provided services including assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or referral, and a supportive environment during all stages of the incarceration period.

The purpose of these procedures is to provide guidelines for screening and identifying inmates with mental health needs and to make every effort possible to keep inmates in the facility for treatment rather than sending them to an outside facility where they often return with expensive drugs that are often not necessary to stabilize mental health issues in a controlled environment such as a jail. This includes care related to mental illness or developmental disabilities.

Intake Mental Health Screening

A mental health screening at booking is conducted by corrections officers trained by our health care staff in what to look for with mental illness and/or suicide ideation, and is designed to identify obvious mental health needs that will be reported to health care staff within 24 hours so that appropriate services can be provided. Inmates in need of immediate care for serious and urgent mental health needs as identified by the intake screening are referred for evaluation by a qualified mental health professional as soon as possible, or a crisis team will be called to provide for immediate and appropriate mental health care.

Comprehensive Mental Health Evaluation

A comprehensive mental health evaluation will be completed on every inmate processed into the facility within 14 days of arrival. The evaluation will include at least:

Review of initial intake mental health screening data.

Collection and review of additional data from staff observation, individual diagnostic interview and tests assessing intellect and coping abilities.

Compilation of an inmate’s mental health history and direct observation of behavior.

If mental health services are determined to be clinically necessary, development of an overall treatment and/or management plan with appropriate referral will be completed within 14 days of evaluation. Mental health services will be provided by our mental health professional staff who meet education and licensure/certification criteria specified by their respective professional disciplines (i.e., psychiatric nurses, Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner, and social workers). All such persons will be limited in their functioning to their areas of professional licensure/certification.

Mental Health Information for Inmates

Upon arrival at a facility, inmates are informed verbally and in writing of the mental health services available, how to request them, and are informed of the policy concerning confidentiality. Each facility's inmate handbook includes the above information and is conveyed in a language understandable by inmates.

Minimum services include crisis intervention and pharmaceuticals. Inmates receiving psychotropic medications are examined periodically by physician services and nursing staff, and are assessed by a qualified mental health professional to ensure that as long as they are incarcerated their mental health is sufficiently stable to not create a danger to the inmate, security staff, or health care personnel.

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This site was last updated 07/21/08

Quality, Cost-Effective, Inmate Health Care Services

Mental Health Services