Health Services sets the policy standards for the delivery of inmate health care and evaluates the care provided throughout the TDOC system. Health Services performs extensive medical and dental screenings on all inmates immediately upon arrival at intake facilities. In addition, Tennessee's correctional health care system is comprehensive and provides inmates with access to such services as medical and dental sick call, emergency care, chronic care clinics, medication management, diagnostic tests and procedures, infirmaries, inpatient hospitalization, substance abuse treatment and specialty services.
The TDOC strives to improve the health status of its inmate population while providing for them a safe housing and working environment. Communicable illnesses such as TB, MRSA, and HIV/AIDS continue to be a major focus for Health Services. In addition. the department has begun to implement a major effort to standardize treatment plans and guidelines for the management of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis c, and asthma.
Through the contract for medical services, Health Services utilizes managed care practices to assure the efficient management of our medical and dental operations and expenditures. The utilization managment system is used to pre-approve all requests for specialty consultations. In addition, there is a retrospective review of all emergency visits and hospital admissions.
