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Special Medical Program <br /> We will provide all special health care services required including, but not <br /> limited to, care for inmates who are chronically or terminally ill, physically <br /> handicapped, developmentally disabled or inmates with special mental <br /> health needs or convalescing inmates. Individual treatment plans will be <br /> developed for all chronically ill, terminally ill and convalescing inmates. <br /> Examples of chronic illness include diabetes, hypertension, asthma and <br /> epilepsy. Convalescing inmates include those recovering from fractures, <br /> inpatient surgical procedures, and hepatitis and other communicable <br /> diseases. The type of treatment will be determined by the needs of the <br /> individual inmate, but may include such things as medications, special <br /> diets, physical therapy, laboratory tests or dressing changes. Each <br /> treatment plan will be initiated by the physician and will be detailed in the <br /> individual's medical record. <br /> We will keep a list of inmates with special needs and maintain schedules <br /> for medical treatment in accordance with our established protocols for <br /> each illness. For example, daily blood sugars are obtained on all diabetics <br /> receiving insulin, Dilantin levels are monitored monthly on epileptic <br /> inmates, and blood pressure evaluations are performed as clinically <br /> indicated on inmates receiving anti-hypertensive drugs. <br /> Medical determination of a tendency towards suicide or a history of <br /> seizures will result in the inmate being assigned to quarters that have <br /> close supervision. <br /> We realize that communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV <br /> and hepatitis require special attention in inmate populations. We have <br /> developed an Infection Control Program that incorporates education, <br /> diagnosis and treatment of inmates. Screening for TB occurs at time of <br /> intake. <br /> Neither North Carolina nor Federal laws specifically require HIV testing <br /> upon request; however we feel that the most prudent course to take would <br /> be to make testing available but limit it by leaving the decision to the <br /> medical staff. <br />