Document Citation: 9 NYCRR 7651.11

Header:
NEW YORK CODES, RULES AND REGULATIONS
TITLE 9. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
SUBTITLE AA. STATE COMMISSION OF CORRECTION
CHAPTER V. MINIMUM STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT OF STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
PART 7651. HEALTH SERVICES

Date:
08/31/2009

Document:

§ 7651.11 Infirmary services

(a) The department shall ensure that all inmates have access to infirmary services.

(b) Except in emergencies, inmates shall be admitted to a facility infirmary only upon the order of a clinical physician. If an inmate is admitted to a facility infirmary from a hospital, the clinical physician shall request a written comprehensive treatment summary and plan for continuing care from such hospital.

(c) Any inmate admitted to a facility infirmary who the facility medical director determines may have an infectious reportable disease shall be placed in medical isolation.

(d) Within 24 hours of admission to a facility infirmary, each inmate shall receive a physical examination.

(e) Within 48 hours of admission to a facility infirmary, a written treatment plan and a written nursing care plan shall be formulated for each inmate. Such written plans shall identify and address the specific medical and direct nursing care needs of each inmate, shall be updated at specified intervals and shall be made a part of each inmate's medical record.

(f) Each inmate in a facility infirmary shall be visited and evaluated by a physician at intervals prescribed by the medical director and specified in each written treatment plan.

(g) After each evaluation, the physician shall make a written progress note in the inmate's medical record. Each note shall be legibly signed and dated by the physician making such evaluation, together with identification of professional title.

(h) At least once every hour on a 24-hour basis each day, a nurse shall visit and observe each inmate in the infirmary. Each such visit shall be recorded in ink in a nursing observation log maintained for that purpose which may be separate from the clinical record.

(i) A summary of relevant activities, problems, orders and precautions shall be recorded in each infirmary patient's record at the termination of each shift.

(j) No inmate shall be discharged from the infirmary unless by order of a clinical physician.

(k) The discharge of an inmate from a facility infirmary for the purpose of effecting a transfer to another correctional facility shall be made only after the medical director of the sending facility has documented in writing the medical appropriateness of such transfer and only after direct consultation between the medical directors of the sending and receiving facilities has taken place. Such determination shall be made a part of the inmate's permanent medical record.

(l) Each correctional facility which operates an infirmary shall have an infirmary discharge planning program in effect for the continuing medical follow-up care of inmates which is adequate for their post-discharge needs.

(m) Infirmaries in newly constructed or renovated facilities shall provide a minimum of 80 square feet of floor space per inmate in the sleeping area.

(n) Each infirmary shall have available areas for the separation of all isolation patients. Such areas shall have facilities for medical and nursing isolation techniques as required by this Part.

(o) Each facility infirmary shall have a linen inventory sufficient to meet the needs of the infirmary, with provisions for handling, storage and processing laundry in a manner to prevent the spread of infection and to ensure the maintenance of clean linen.

(p) Each facility infirmary shall provide adequate toilet and bathing facilities appropriate in number, size and design to meet the needs of infirmary residents. At a minimum, at least one centralized toilet shall be provided for each eight infirmary inmates, and at least one bathing facility for each 20 infirmary patients, one of which shall be equipped for handicapped inmates.

(q) Each facility infirmary shall provide at least one room which shall be equipped and located to permit close, short-term observation of inmates.

(r) Infirmaries in newly constructed or renovated facilities shall provide separate clean and soiled utility rooms.