Hospital Assignments PDF

Lesson 11 Hospital Assignments Lesson Goal You will maintain custody of an inmate during a hospital assignment. Think About This An officer is monitoring an inmate during a hospital assignment. The inmate asks to use the re- stroom. The officer removes the inmate’s restraints and stands guard o...

Lesson 11 Hospital Assignments Lesson Goal You will maintain custody of an inmate during a hospital assignment. Think About This An officer is monitoring an inmate during a hospital assignment. The inmate asks to use the re- stroom. The officer removes the inmate’s restraints and stands guard outside the restroom door. Meanwhile, the inmate climbs through the roof of the restroom and attempts an escape. Fortu- nately, the inmate falls through the ceiling and is recaptured. Could anything have been done to prevent the situation? Communicating Security Concerns With Medical Staff ✅ CO6011.1. Communicate with medical staff about inmate security concerns When you arrive at the hospital, give any accompanying medical records to hospital staff. Speak with medical staff if you have security concerns that may affect the care of the inmate. These concerns may include: unauthorized visitation safety and suicide precautions unauthorized phone access access to items that are considered contraband in a correctional facility Hospital staff may assist with moving the inmate throughout the facility. However, it is your respon- sibility to maintain security. General Officer Responsibilities ✅ CO6011.2. Maintain inmate safety and hospital security during hospital assignments When you are assigned hospital duty for an inmate, upon arrival or start of a shift notify your super- visor or control room staff of the arrival, room number, and the inmate’s condition. Survey the area in which the inmate is being held for potential security threats. Remove unnecessary medi- cal equipment, furnishings, and hospital personnel from the immediate area if possible. Conduct a visual search of the inmate, the room, and any adjacent rooms, such as bathroom facilities that the inmate may use during their stay. Systematically inspect and secure all windows and second- ary exits if possible. Inspect all restraints used on the inmate to ensure proper security. Correct and immediately report any discrepancies to your supervisor. 192 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 When applying, removing, or checking restraints, be aware of your weapon retention techniques, as you are near the inmate. Stand strategically between the inmate and other people or the door. If the inmate is in isolation, station yourself outside the door. If the inmate is in the operating room or intensive care unit (ICU), follow the direction of hospital staff, but do not violate correctional agency policies or procedures. Contact your supervisor immediately if a conflict occurs between hospital and agency policy. Do not allow the inmate to have contact with the public. If the security of the inmate is compro- mised due to public contact, notify your supervisor immediately to determine what additional security measures may be necessary. Inmate deathbed visit requests by family members will be addressed by agency administration on a case-by-case basis. Restraint Issues ✅ CO6011.3. Know the role of security restraint devices during hospital assignments Security restraint devices, such as shackles, handcuffs, or flex cuffs, may be used to secure an inmate in the hospital. It is common practice for officers to apply one leg restraint to the inmate and the other to the bed frame and not the bed rail, to prevent unauthorized movement. Security restraint devices may be removed temporarily, with the approval of the facility officer-in-charge, to conduct medical tests or procedures. Removing handcuffs and leg restraints at the same time is not recommended unless medically necessary; however, in such cases, take additional security measures. Reapply restraints once the test, procedure, or examination has been completed. Restraints may not be used on a prisoner who is known to be pregnant during the third trimes- ter, or during labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery unless you make a determination that the prisoner presents a substantial flight risk or some other extraordinary medical or security circum- stance that dictates restraints should be used. There are restrictions on the types and placement of restraint devices on pregnant prisoners. Follow your agency’s policy. If a licensed health care professional requests all restraints be removed, inform them of all pertinent security concerns regarding the inmate. ✅ CO6011.4. Know the role of clinical restraints and clinical seclusion during hospital assignments Inmates may also be controlled through other methods. Clinical restraints are measures that keep inmate-patients from injuring themselves and are ordered by the attending physician in a medical facility. Clinical seclusion is the isolation of an inmate from the general population at a medical facility for medical and safety reasons and may include placing the inmate in a padded room or a straight- jacket for their safety. The attending physician has sole discretion on the application or removal of clinical restraints and placement in or out of clinical seclusion based on specific medical needs. Inmate Medical Emergencies Inmate medical emergencies are chaotic events, and may involve multiple medical personnel responding to the situation. Remember that security measures must not interfere with medical Chapter 6 Supervising in a Correctional Facility / 193 life-saving intervention, so monitor all activity and maintain a balance between security and medi- cal treatment. ✅ CO6011.5. Maintain inmate safety and hospital security during inmate medical emergencies in a hospital setting Notify the nearest medical personnel for assistance if an inmate exhibits any of the following: signs of medical distress, such as difficulty breathing, extreme sweating, nausea, extreme bleeding, or paralysis dislodging of medical devices or equipment, such as intravenous (IV) lines or monitors a medical situation beyond your training and abilities You must complete an incident report as soon as possible after the medical emergency has been resolved. 194 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1