Topic: Health & Wellness / Sick call - being phased out?

What we do here in our medium – minimum state facility (2800 inmates) is basically an appointment type system. Inmates drop Health Service Requests in a box located near the chow hall and mail boxes. The box is locked, painted white with a red cross on it. Every morning a nurse empties the box and triages the requests. Most are scheduled for nurse sick call the next day (either the 07:30 or 13:00 one) at the medical services building, however, if it something that is urgent (such as a boil – potential MRSA, etc) they are sent a pass for the afternoon sick call held at 13:00 that day. Nurse sick last about 1 1/2 hours for each session. Based to the nurse’s decision, some may be scheduled directly with the doctor, for example a Chronic Care diabetic who is experiencing symptoms of low blood sugar, etc..) Requests for dental are given directly to dental who passes them according tot heir own schedule. This practice allows for near immediate access to care or care within 24-48 hours of request. We hold sick call Mon-Fri. Inmates are charged $3.00 for a sick call visit of a non-emergent nature (for instance for something they could have gotten out of commissary like Tylenol for back pain) or $2.00 for an acute illness that is not Chronic Care related, a follow-up from a previous visit, and injury or accident, or at the request of a staff member (such as evaluation for use of force). Hope this helps.