katchmoleen

Thanks very much for your reply! The thing is that we have no doctor here at the transitional facility. I'm IT and I only work 15 hours a week! So they have pretty much left medical care alone. I have found that most of the counselors don't even know what all their residents are on! That is my first job, to be a liason in that respect.

I have a new job in a transitional facility, and our residents make their own appointments and pay for their own care. My administrator is terrified of HIPAA and thinks we cannot interfere in any way with their care even if they come home with prescriptions for 5 controlled substances! He thinks we are never allowed to call the doctor. I pointed out that they sign a blanket release when they come, and I was assured by another correctional nurse that these guys are STILL prisoners, albeit in a halfway house, and that HIPAA does not apply the same to prisoners. If someone could PLEASE point me to some kind of reference on this subject that I can show my bosses, I would be forever grateful. Thanks! Montana nurse

Nt

I have started my second week as a part time RN in a transitional facility (half-way house, I guess some call it). There was no nurse here ever before and so I am building my own program from the ground up. I am enjoying it so far but am needing some information. 1) Where can I find HIPAA regulations as they pertain especially to the corrections setting? Our residents sign a blanket release form when they come here, but for some reason everyone thinks they can not have anything to do with who the residents go see and what gets prescribed, etc. So we have tons of residents on controlled substances just because a doc, who may or may not even know the kid is in pre-release, ordered them. I have told my co-workers that the blanket release form covers them, but they want more assurance. I want to start calling docs about what they are putting my residents on but my boss is reluctant to let me do so. Any help is appreciated. 2) Our residents self administer their drugs, so we get around having to have nurses or med techs on staff. (I only work 15 hours a week). The drugs, including the controlled substances, are kept in unlocked drawers in a room to which many have access. This seems beyond stupid. I was told that if they are not in a "health care delivery system" (like a prison or hospital) the narcs don't have to be locked up. I am having trouble finding regs about that too. 3) As far as I can find, there is no book on Standards of Care for half-way houses. Would I find the jail or prison books helpful? My residents still are prisoners, are they not? Just in a different type of facility? Thanks in advance for all your help. Kathleen in MT