A: Health Services provides comprehensive medical, dental, mental health, and nursing care for all individuals in state correctional facilities. Care includes routine sick call visits, chronic disease management, emergency care, preventive screenings, medication administration, and access to specialty services when medically necessary.
If the facility provider determines that specialized care is needed (such as cardiology, orthopedics, or dermatology), a referral is made through the Utilization Management process. Once approved, the appointment is scheduled either on-site through telehealth or off-site at a community medical provider under secure escort.
A: Patients may request medical attention through the Sick Call process by submitting a Sick Call Request Form which is available in each housing unit. Nursing staff review these requests daily, and appointments are scheduled based on medical priority. Emergency concerns are evaluated immediately by either on-site medical staff or via after-hours video nursing triage. Should an individual experience symptoms which they feel are emergent, they should declare an emergency to either custody or medical staff and they will be evaluated expeditiously.
A: Medications are administered by licensed nursing staff according to prescribed schedules and orders. Patients receiving “Keep on Person” (KOP) medications are issued a weekly or monthly supply and instructed on proper use and must adhere to facility policy for storage and reporting of lost doses. In most facilities patients are responsible for reporting to a designated medication administration window at specified times to receive medications.
A: Medication refill requests are the responsibility of the patient for most “Keep on Person” (KOP) medications, and it is important they track their prescriptions so they can request refills prior to their expiration. Prescription renewals for most medications should be requested via the sick call process.
A: In the event of a medical emergency, staff activate the facility’s emergency response protocol. Nursing staff respond immediately to assess and stabilize the patient, and emergency transport is arranged as necessary.
A: The MOUD Program provides evidence-based treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder. It includes assessment, medication management, when indicated, and linkage to community-based continuity of care upon release. The program aims to improve recovery outcomes, reduce relapse and decrease overdose risk.
A: Health information is confidential and protected under HIPAA and state privacy laws. Families may request general information by contacting the facility’s Health Services Administrator or Director of Nursing. However, for medical staff to provide more specific/ protected health information, the incarcerated individual must provide specific consent/ Release of Information (ROI) for identified individuals utilizing DC-436 or DC-436VE (Authorization to Release Medical Information).
The physical content of active medical records for incarcerated individuals may only be released to an attending physician or legal counsel of the incarcerated individual (or formerly incarcerated individual) with a valid Authorization for Release of Information (DC-436). The personal representative of a deceased individual may consent to disclosure of medical information by submitting a valid authorization for release of information. Only verbal and/or electronic discussion of medical concerns will be provided to all other entities upon receipt of valid release of information. Additional information may be found in DAC policy D.0600 Access to Information – Offender Records
For questions or to request medical records on a previously incarcerated individual contact:
Healthcare Records Administration
Attn: Medical Records
4268 Mail Service Center
2125 Energy Drive
Apex, NC 27502
or email: DAC_MedRec@dac.nc.gov
A: If there is an urgent concern about an incarcerated individual’s health, family members should encourage the incarcerated individual to either declare an emergency or fill out a sick call slip. Family members may also contact the facility’s Health Services Administrator (HSA), Nursing Supervisor or Assistant Warden of Programs during business hours. After hours, urgent messages may be directed through facility administration for follow-up by medical staff.
A: For general inquiries, contact the Health Services Administration Office or Nurse Liaison at 831 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27603 or email SVC_DAC.FamilyLiaison@dac.nc.gov Specific program or regional questions should be directed to your Regional Nurse Supervisor or Operations Director.
Medical care is never denied based on the individuals ability to pay. This information is communicated orally and in writing in a language that is easily understood by each incarcerated individual.
Patient-initiated health care requires a copayment of $5.00 and patient-initiated emergency visits outside the normal sick call process can at times be subject to a $7.00 copayment. Patients who declare an emergency accrue no copay if they are screened and determined to have a true emergency (potential of life or limb threatening or that requires immediate medical treatment).
Copay is charged at the time the patient is seen by the nurse or dental. Additional charges are not added if the individual is subsequently referred to a medical provider or specialty consultant.
Applicable medical and dental services for which copayments may be charged include but are not limited to:
Copayments are not initiated for the following (to include but not limited to):
Early Medical Release is legislatively mandated through NC General Statute (NCGS) 15A-1369.
There are certain convictions and sentencing considerations which prohibit consideration for early medical release.
In accordance with statute, to be considered for early medical release, individuals must meet at least one of the following statutory medical criteria:
Terminally ill (defined as less than 9 months life expectancy) and debilitated because of the illness
Physical incapacitation because of an irreversible permanent and total disability
Geriatric (defined as 55 years of age and older) and physically incapacitated
Specific legislative language:
Any inmate except those with convictions for Class A, B1 or B2 felony or any crime requiring registration as a sex offender, meeting the definition of Terminally Ill, Permanently and Totally Disabled or Geriatric as indicated below can be considered for Medical Release.
Terminally Ill - An incurable condition as determined by a licensed physician caused by an illness or disease that was unknown at the time of sentencing or has progressed since sentencing and will likely produce death within 9 months and is so debilitating that he/she poses low or no risk to public safety.
Permanently and Totally Disabled - An irreversible physical incapacitation as determined by a licensed physician caused by an existing physical or medical condition that was unknown at the time of sentencing or has progressed since sentencing to render the inmate to be permanently disabled and so debilitated that he/she poses low or no risk to public safety.
Geriatric - An inmate who is 55 years or older who suffers from chronic infirmity, illness or disease related to aging that has progressed such that the inmate is incapacitated to the point that he/she poses low or no risk to public safety.