Responsible Health Authority

Idaho
Department of
Correction

Standard
Operating
Procedure
Title:
Responsible Health Authority

Page:
1 of 2

Control Number:
401.06.03.002
Version:
3.0
Adopted:
06-01-1995

Pat Donaldson, division chief of management services, approved this
document on 07/05/2016.
Open to the public: Yes
SCOPE
This standard operation procedure applies to all Idaho D epartment of Correction (IDOC) and
contract staff involved in medical, dental, psychiatric, and psychological services provided to
inmates under the jurisdiction of the IDOC.
Revision Summary
Revision date (07/05/2016) version 3.0: Reformatted and updated to meet current SOP
standards.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Board of Correction IDAPA Rule Number ................................................................................ 1
Policy Control Number 401 ....................................................................................................... 1
Purpose ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Responsibility ............................................................................................................................ 1
Standard Procedures ................................................................................................................ 2
1. Health Care Management Overview................................................................................ 2
Definitions ................................................................................................................................. 2
References ................................................................................................................................ 2
BOARD OF CORRECTION IDAPA RULE NUMBER
None
POLICY CONTROL NUMBER 401
Clinical Services and Treatment
PURPOSE
This SOP provides guidance regarding the responsibilities of responsible health care
authorities in the department.
RESPONSIBILITY
The chief of the division of management services is responsible to implement this standard
operating procedure.
Control Number:
401.06.03.002
Version:
3.0
Title:
Responsible Health Authority

Page Number:
2 of 2

Idaho Department of Correction
The medical authority, in cooperation with the director, the chief of management services ,
and the chief of division of prisons are responsible to provide healthcare services .
STANDARD PROCEDURES
1. Health Care Management Overview
Healthcare must include medical, mental and dental services, personal hygiene, dietary
(when medically prescribed) and environmental conditions.
Medical Director
A medical director may be an IDOC staff physician or be contracted to provide medical
services for specific institutions . The medical director or designee is responsible for
making final medical judgments. The medical director must have a major role in
arranging for all levels of healthcare and assuring quality and accessibilit y of all health
services provided to inmates .
Medical Administrator
The medical administrator or designee on site is the health authority for each IDOC
institution. If the senior medical staff aboard is not a physician, then a physician must be
identified for medical decisions.
IDOC Healthcare Services Director
The IDOC healthcare services director is a state employee assigned to oversee
healthcare services at all IDOC correctional facilities.The IDOC m edical authority must
ensure that there is an assigned medical director or a designee available at all times.
Facility Head
The facility head or designee of each facility is responsible for security control of the
medical areas.
DEFINITIONS
None
REFERENCES
NCCHC Standards for Health Services in Prisons -2014
P-A-02 Responsible Health Authority
– End of Document –