Chapter 3 – Health Care Operations

3.3.2.1 Initial Health Screening – Receiving and Release

• Policy

  • California Department of Corrections (CDCR), Division of Health Care Services (DHCS), Receiving and Release (R&R), nursing staff shall perform an initial health screening on each patient upon commitment to a CDCR institution to identify urgent/emergent dental needs.

• Purpose

  • To provide patients with continuity of health care and to identify urgent/emergent dental conditions requiring referral to a dentist for immediate care.

• Procedure

  • Each newly arriving patient, including new commitments and parole violators, shall receive an initial health screening including an assessment of their dental needs in R&R, prior to being housed, which shall be performed by nursing staff. (Reference the Health Care Department Operations Manual [HCDOM], Section 3.1.8(c)).  This initial health screening shall not be considered as the Reception Center (RC) dental screening that is performed by a dentist and is an integral part of the RC classification process.

  • Upon completing the initial health screening, the Registered Nurse (RN) or licensed health care provider, shall document the findings in the Electronic Health Record System (EHRS).

  • The RN or licensed health care provider conducting the initial health screening shall be trained to perform assessments of dental needs prior to being assigned to work in R&R.  The Supervising RN, or designee, shall maintain all training records.

  • Results of the initial health screening.

    • If the RN or licensed health care provider determines the dental issue to be urgent, the patient shall be referred to and evaluated by a dentist within one business day.

    • In the case of a dental emergency during dental clinic operating hours, health care staff performing the initial health screening shall follow the procedure outlined in the HCDOM, Section 3.3.5.9(c)(2).

    • In the case of a dental emergency outside dental clinic operating hours, health care staff performing the initial health screening shall follow the procedure outlined in the HCDOM, Section 3.3.5.9(c)(3).

    • Health care staff conducting the initial health screening shall follow the procedure outlined in the HCDOM, Section 3.3.2.3(c)(3) if the patient refuses the dental encounter.

  • If any questions are answered “yes” by the patient during the initial health screening, the RN or licensed health care provider shall follow established protocol for referral of the patient to a dentist or physician for further evaluation or treatment.  Based upon the RN’s review of all relevant data, a disposition shall be recorded in the EHRS.

  • The R&R nurse shall place the appropriate referral order in the EHRS for patients who need to be seen by a dentist on an urgent or emergent basis.

• References

  • Health Care Department Operations Manual, Chapter 3, Article 1, Section 3.1.8, Reception Center

  • Health Care Department Operations Manual, Chapter 3, Article 3, Section 3.3.2.3, Comprehensive Dental Examinations – Mainline Facility

  • Health Care Department Operations Manual, Chapter 3, Article 3, Section 3.3.5.9, Dental Emergencies

• Revision History

  • Effective: 04/2006
    Revised: 11/2017, 11/2020, 02/2022