N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 7651.6

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 45, November 2, 2024

Section 7651.6 - Clinical health services authority

(a) The department shall establish clinical health services authorities. The department shall require that direct health care delivery in correctional facilities is governed by a clinical health services authority.

(b) At a minimum, each clinical health services authority shall consist of: a medical director; director of nursing; and health care staff.

(c) The department shall develop written job descriptions outlining the duties and responsibilities of the medical director, director of nursing and health care staff.

(d) Each medical director shall be a physician currently licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York. Each clinical health services authority with jurisdiction over more than one correctional facility shall be staffed by a full time medical director.

(e) Each medical director shall be responsible for the quality, continuity and availability of all health care provided to inmates within each correctional facility.

(f) Each director of nursing shall be a registered professional nurse in the State of New York.

(g) The department shall provide each clinical health services authority with a health care staff which consists of adequate numbers of New York State licensed clinical physicians, registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses and/or registered physician's assistants and/or certified nurse practitioners to meet the health care needs of the inmate population under the care of the clinical health services authority. In determining the adequacy of each health care staff, the department shall take into account factors including, but not limited to:

(1) the annual average size of the inmate population under the care of the clinical health services authority;

(2) the level(s) of care to be delivered by the clinical health services authority as defined by the department consistent with the requirements of this Part; and

(3) impediments to or limitations upon inmate access to health services associated with security imperatives and/or physical plant location or configuration.

(h) At a minimum, the following health care staffing requirements shall be met:

(1) each clinical health services authority shall be staffed with one registered professional nurse on a 24-hour basis each day and shall provide for the continuous access, without undue delay, to such nurse by all inmates for whom the clinical health services authority is responsible. Reasonably proximate clinical health services authorities may share nursing staff for purposes of compliance with this paragraph;

(2) if a correctional facility operates an infirmary unit, it shall be staffed with registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses and/or nurses' aides in sufficient number to furnish each infirmary patient direct nursing care and related services including assessments, treatments, medications, diets and other health services in accordance with each inmate treatment and nursing care plan prepared pursuant to section 7651.11(e) of this Part; and

(3) the services of a clinical physician shall be available on call to each correctional facility every day during the hours in which no physician is present within the facility.

(i) All health care staff members shall at all times be clearly and readily identifiable as to name and professional title.

(j) The department shall maintain records of current New York State licensure or registration of all physicians, nurses and health care staff in its employ.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 7651.6

Renumbered from subtitle AA of chapter V New York State Register April 11, 2018/Volume XL, Issue 15, eff. 4/11/2018