| Agencies bringing
patients in their custody to the Emergency Department for treatment shall
plan to remain with the patients and escort them away when treatment has
been concluded. If the patient’s
medical condition requires admittance to the hospital, the agency must
provide or make arrangements for security services on a 24hour basis.
Exceptions include:
• Prisoners released on their recognizance
• Most Department of Mental Health/Mental
Retardation (MHMR)patients
• Prisoners with a misdemeanor charge
• In case of MHMR patients, the security
personnel should remain until the inpatient is on the unit and secure
• Additionally, special circumstances may
waive the need for security (e.g., patient is comatose) upon approval of
the attending physician
University Police will assist with the
determination of above exceptions.
Security personnel designated to keep the
patient in custody must at all times wear conspicuous identification or
shield.
Security personnel will remain with the
patient or, in close view of, to assure that the patient remains in custody.
If the officer on duty is requested to leave the room by a health care
provider, the officer will assume a position to maintain visual contact with
the prisoner, but of sufficient distance to protect the prisoner’s right to
confidentiality.
The officer will re-enter the room of the
prisoner as requested by the physician or other appropriate health care
provider or on departure of the physician or health care provider.
Relief for security personnel will be
provided by the agency designated to guard the patient in custody.
If the foregoing conditions are not
acceptable to the agency involved, other arrangements must be made for the
provision of health care services.
• employees will use Mr./Ms./Mrs. and their
last name when introducing themselves to offender/correctional patients
• employees shall not leave any equipment or
supplies not routinely used or medically necessary in the delivery of
patient care in the room without approval from the law enforcement agency or
correctional institution
• any equipment that is left in the
patient’s room will be checked for any missing parts (e.g., knobs, wires,
etc.) prior to placing in the room, during use, and prior to leaving the
room. Anything missing will be reported to the appropriate authority
immediately
• at no time will an offender/correctional
patient be handcuffed to a bed or other fixture and left unattended by law
enforcement and correctional personnel
• metal wrist and ankle cuffs may be used to
physically restrain patients for security purposes. In these circumstances,
the nursing staff are required to monitor the patient's affected
• extremity for proper circulation and
positioning every shift or as the condition warrants, and shall document
this in the medical record
• when the use of metal wrist or ankle cuffs
is prohibited by a medical condition, a physician's order and a progress
note must be written in the medical record explaining the rationale
for the removal. An alternative restraint may be used (e.g., if leg
restraint is removed, handcuffs may be applied)
• if security personnel disagree with the
physician regarding the removal of security restraints, the
warden/responsible security official or designee and the appropriate unit
medical director must be contacted for resolution
• in case of an emergency (e.g., fire alarm,
etc.) outside law enforcement and correctional personnel shall contact the
charge nurse or nurse manager for the area and follow the instructions given
• idle conversation with
offender/correctional patients is prohibited. An employee’s personal life
shall not be discussed with, nor in the presence of, a patient
• official conversation should be conducted
outside the hearing of the offender patient unless their involvement is
necessary
• correctional/offender patients should not
be aware of the time or location of their appointments, admissions or
discharges |
