OTC meds given upon request?

aknurs · Aug 26, 2008

At my facility, they are dished out by the officers, that are in charge of the mod. They get Tylenol, Advil, Antiacid & Fibercon, , the officer keeps track of who takes what. So far they have not been abused, well by the inmates anyway..Most of the inmates that ask for them are indigent. Other inmates buy their own. We do not give out OTC's at Med-pass..as there are too many inmates at med-pass to dish out OTC's..

uraqt2 · Aug 26, 2008

At my facility we use to have the officers give OTC meds out and keep a log but somewhere along the lines it was changed to nursing needed to give them out and keep records that went in the chart. Recently, though due to several issues (inmate abuse being the biggest issue :banghead: ) the policy has been changed to the inmates must submit a kite to be seen either on nursing sick call or by the provider (what a relief this is to med pass nurses). Inmates are not denied medical care for inability to pay so being indigent isn't a reason to not be seen.

deyo321 · Aug 28, 2008

OTC's are passed at Med pass. The IM's must sign a request form and there is a nominal fee. Tylenol is $.25 ea. etc. All inmates must sign. Indigents will run in the red and any monies deposited in their canteen will be used first to offset any neg. balance. Admin actually keeps these and our return guests are often surprised when their money is used to cover their past expenses.

If an IM tells control they need Motrin etc between med pass the CO will call me and see if I can see them. Then if there is an officer available they can be brought to MSO. If it is close to med pass we wait.

We have standard orders here for OTC's from our Docs. So they (the IM) sign for them, we give them and then we document on MAR.

Our IM's commissary does not carry meds other than tinactin and chapstick. IM's are not allowed to have any meds on person in facility.

We are a small county jail. 100 inmates.

lauradrizzt · Sep 13, 2008

I am sure it varies from state to state, but we give out NO OTC meds, they either buy them from commissary or they fill out a sick call, get charged for the sick call, then the meds too...usually tylenol is a two day med...alot to pay for six bucks!

Truegem · Sep 13, 2008

I wish we had a fee for service. Everything is free free free! They are seen in sick call, given free OTC meds if necessary. The OTC's are self-carry.

Deyo321, I LOVE the idea that their past balance is paid with what is in their wallet next time they come in! That's perfect!

We are a nice jail. How dare we charge $6 to a drug dealer? The city jail across the street is even nicer. The inmate area has carpet, they have 12 inch thick mattresses, pizza nights, games, etc etc etc. I have to go vomit now.

lauradrizzt · Sep 13, 2008

I don't know what state you are in Truegem, but I was a bit nauseated there myself...These guys here get charged three bucks for the sick call, three dollars for each med, and have no carpet, and a four inch mattress.. I am in happy happy land...

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Sep 13, 2008

In my facility the inmate must fill out a request form. There are standing orders for them and a one time dose given. They don't pay anything for the request or meds. If the inmate has chronic headaches etc, a MAR is made and they can request the med @ medpass BID PRN.

They are not allowed to keep meds on person other than inhalers, so commissary doesn't even carry OTC's. Our dorms house 48 inmates-unlike other facilities where there are 2 or so per dorm.

The meds are dispensed at medpass to their dorms. No one comes to medical unless it's an emergency, require an injection, blood draw, insulin or observation. The CO's are not allowed to medicate them with anything in my facility.