8.18 Medical Clearance/Intake Health and Screening Pursuant to Section 1430

Chapter 8
Section 18
Subject 8.18 Medical Clearance/Intake Health and Screening Pursuant to Section 1430
Effective Date 4/30/2024 12:00 AM
  1. The responsible physician in cooperation with the Facility Administrator and Behavioral Health Director shall establish policies and procedures defining when a health evaluation and/or treatment shall be obtained prior to acceptance for admission.  Policies and procedures shall also establish a documented intake health screening procedure to be conducted immediately upon entry into the facility.
    1.  Prior to acceptance for booking
      1. Conditions that preclude acceptance
      2.  Medical clearance
        • Altered mental status
        • Intoxication
        • Documentation of circumstances
        • Documentation of pre-booking treatment medical clearance.
        • A minor who is unconscious shall not be accepted into the facility.
    2. At time of booking
      1. Intake screening identifies 
        • Hazard to youth or others
        • Health conditions that require treatment
        • Communicable disease isolation
        • Timely referral
  2. Medical Examination by Law Enforcement. Staff may request law enforcement to clear a youth at Behavioral Health or Community Health Clinic/Hospital Emergency Room prior to booking Requests will be made under the following circumstances:
    1. Behavioral Health - Any youth who does not know their name, the date, the year, what time they are arrested and/or is a danger to self or others, (i.e. 5585 of the Health and Safety Code, suicidal) shall be referred to Behavioral Health for evaluation.
    2. Clinic/Emergency Room - Any youth who has been in an accident, incurred an injury during arrest, has potentially serious injuries incurred prior to arrest, who has been unconscious and/or who exhibits any of the symptoms of alcohol or drug impairment as listed in Section 5.1 D of this policy and procedure manual.
  3. Intake Health Screening 
    1. Youth shall undergo an initial health screening at the time of booking.  Youth who are experiencing any of the symptoms of alcohol or drug impairment as listed below, and/or are ill or injured, SHALL NOT be admitted to the facility until cleared by a physician.
      1. Youth is unconscious.
      2. Youth is intoxicated and unable to remain awake.
      3. Youth is intoxicated and experiencing slow or slurred speech.
      4. Youth is unable to stand or ambulate by themselves.
      5. Youth is disoriented as to time, place or person.
      6. Youth is unable to sit unassisted without falling.
      7. Youth is experiencing persistent vomiting or an inability to clear mucus or food and liquids.
      8. Whenever a youth is not accepted for booking, documentation of the circumstances and reasons for requiring a medical clearance shall be documented.
      9. A written medical clearance shall be received from an emergency room or Behavioral Health on all youth needing clearance prior to booking.
      10. When the arresting agency has medically cleared a youth through an emergency room due to his/her being under the influence of a controlled substances or alcohol and is then accepted for admission into the Juvenile Hall, that youth shall be placed in a holding room when possible, on a fifteen-minute stress watch.  The youth shall remain on a fifteen-minute watch until the nursing staff pursuant to Section 2-1E has medically cleared the youth.
      11. When requested by law enforcement Juvenile Hall staff will, when possible, relieve law enforcement at the hospital after authorization by the on-call SDPO or Chief Deputy.