(a) Purpose.
(1) The following minimum health care standards are intended to insure that the quality of health care services provided to inmates in New York City correctional facilities is maintained at a level consistent with legal requirements, accepted professional standards and sound professional judgment and practice.
(2) These standards shall apply to health services for all inmates in the care and custody of the New York City Department of Correction (DOC), whether in City Correction facilities or at other health care facilities.
(b) Service goals. Services for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of medical and dental disorders shall be provided to all inmates in the care and custody of the New York City Department of Correction. The Department of Correction and the Health Authorities in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) shall design and implement a health care program to provide the following:
(1) Medical and dental diagnosis, treatment and appropriate follow-up care consistent with professional standards and sound professional judgment and professional practice;
(2) Management and administration of emergency medical and dental care;
(3) Regular training and development of health care personnel and correctional staff as appropriate to their respective roles in the health care delivery system; and
(4) Review and assessment of the quality of health service delivery on an ongoing basis.
(c) Definitions.
Chief Correctional Officer. "Chief Correctional Officer" refers to the highest ranking correctional official assigned to a facility (usually a warden).
Chronic Care. "Chronic care" is service rendered to an inmate over a long period of time. Treatment for diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and epilepsy are examples thereof.
Convalescent Care. "Convalescent care" refers to services rendered to an inmate to assist in the recovery from illness or injury.
Emergency. "Emergency" medical or dental care refers to care for an acute illness or an unexpected health need that cannot be deferred until the next scheduled sick call or clinic without jeopardy to the inmate's health or causing undue suffering.
Facility. "Facility" refers to any jail which operates as its own command or to any jail annex which is not within walking distance of the parent facility.
Flow Sheet. "Flow sheet" refers to a document which contains all clinical and laboratory variables on a problem in which data and time relationships are complex (e.g., sequential fasting blood sugars in the diabetic inmate).
Health Authority. "Health Authority" shall refer to any health care body designated by New York City as the agency or agencies responsible for health services for inmates in the care and custody of the New York City Department of Correction. When the responsibility is contractually shared with an outside provider this term shall also apply.
Health Care Personnel. "Health care personnel" refers to professionals who meet qualifications stipulated by their profession and who possess all credentials and licenses required by New York State law. Medical personnel refers to physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
Health Record. "Health record" refers to a single medical record that contains all available information pertaining to an inmate's medical, mental health and dental care. Unless otherwise specified this record refers to a jail-based health record, not the hospital record, which is separate.
Sick-Call. "Sick-call" refers to an encounter between an inmate and health care personnel for the purpose of assessing and/or treating an inmate's medical complaint.
Special Needs. "Special needs" refers to inmates requiring chronic care (see definition 6), convalescent care (definition 7) or skilled nursing care.