Health Appraisal/Physical Examination

Written policy and procedure shall govern health appraisals and physical examinations for inmates which include the following requirements for new admissions: (1) Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 127, § 16, each inmate committed to the facility for 30 days or more shall receive a thorough physical examination. Said examination shall take place no later than seven days after admission. This time frame may be extended to within 14 days of admission for cases in which the admission screening was completed by a physician, physician's assistant or registered nurse. (2) If a newly admitted inmate is accompanied by a medical record containing documentation of a record of a complete physical examination within the last 90 days, a complete new physical examination is not necessary, except as determined by the designated health authority. However, qualified medical staff shall: (a) review the inmate's medical record; (b) examine the inmate for any signs of trauma or disease which may have been incurred since the last examination; (c) conduct any tests or examinations which are medically indicated; and, (d) review findings and any required follow-up services with the inmate. (3) Health examinations shall include the following: (a) a review of the earlier receiving screening; (b) collection of additional data to complete the medical, dental, psychiatric and immunization histories; (c) administering of laboratory or diagnostic tests to detect communicable diseases and tuberculosis; (d) recording of height, weight, pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and respiration; (e) administering of other tests and examinations as appropriate; (f) completion of a physical examination with comments about mental health and dental status; (g) review of the results of the medical examination, tests and identification of problems by a physician or by any other qualified health care personnel; (h) initiation of treatment when appropriate; and, (i) recommendations concerning housing, job assignment, or program participation, when appropriate.