Page 22 - Delaware Medical Journal - April 2016

Hazel
D. Plant
Women’s
Treatment Facility
(HDPWTF) is a Level 4
security all-female facility in which the medical staff
provides primary care medicine through Sick Call and Chronic Care appointments. It also provides substance abuse treatment through the Crest North for Women Program.
Plummer Community Correctional Center (PCCC), John L. Webb Community Correctional Center (WCCC), Central Violation of Probation Center (CVOP), and Morris Community Correctional Center (MCCC) are Level 4 security all-male facilities in which the medical staff provides primary care medicine through
Sick Call and Chronic Care appointments and mental health treatments. CVOP and WCCC also provide substance abuse treatment through the Crest Primary Program.
Sussex Community Correction Center (SCCC)/ and Sussex Violation of Parole (SVOP) house both male and female offenders. The medical unit staffs provide primary care medicine through Sick Call and Chronic Care appointments. They also provide substance abuse treatment through the Crest Program.
The Department also has an alternative sentencing program
for pregnant offenders who are receiving medication assisted treatment for substance use disorder. The program known as “New Expectations” is a Level 3 supervision housed in a home environment where the offenders receive counseling for their substance abuse disorder and pre-natal care through supervised transportation to the obstetrician. The offenders are allowed to stay in the facility with their newborn infants for six months as part of the court-ordered supervision.
CONTINUITY OF CARE
The medical care provided to offenders begins early in their incarceration with an intake screening process by a Registered Nurse assessing whether the offender may be a threat to themselves or to other offenders during the time of incarceration.
In addition, this assessment looks for injuries that may have been sustained prior to their arrest, whether the offender
has a substance use disorder and may have the potential for withdrawing off a substance such as alcohol or opioids and
requires a higher level of supervision in the early days of the incarceration. As the process of being arrested can be
associated with many and deep emotions, the intake screening process evaluates the offender for the possibility that they may attempt to harm themselves and if there is a suggestion of such ideation, the offender is referred to a higher level of supervision including, if necessary, very frequent observation
by behavioral health personnel. Infectious diseases are frequently found in the recently arrested that have not been
evaluated prior to incarceration. There is a tuberculosis screening and testing upon admission. Those who may be contagious are referred to an Airborne Infection Isolation environment in a
for their past medical and behavioral health history and when

currently prescribed medications with the local pharmacies in order to continue the medication without interruption.
Within a few days of admission the offender receives an initial medical, dental, and if indicated during intake screening, a behavioral health evaluation by a licensed professional who has undergone the credentials review of their education, training, and experience and been granted privileges to diagnose and treat offenders housed in the Department facilities. Sick Call requests are collected and triaged daily to address new and minor diagnoses the offender may develop during their time of incarceration. The goal of the medical care provided to offenders, both pre-trial and sentenced,
is to approximate as closely as possible what the offender could obtain were they not incarcerated, within the security constraints for public safety. Those offenders, both pre-trial chronic condition requiring medication or periodic monitoring are enrolled in a Chronic Care Clinic and followed during their time of incarceration. Those enrolled in the Chronic Care Clinic receive an annual preventive health evaluation
and other offenders are scheduled for preventive health evaluations based upon their age and the U. S. Preventive Task Force prevention recommendations. In preparation for their release from incarceration, there is a discharge planning process to assess their medical and housing requirements. Upon release the offender is given a 30-day supply of prescriptions to allow them time to connect with a primary care provider after their release.
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Del Med J | April 2016 | Vol. 88 | No. 4