In order to ensure that inmates requiring medical treatment from outside medical facilities are transported in a time frame appropriate for their required level of care, an Inmate Medical Transportation Tag system shall be utilized. This system will ensure that inmates who are injured, or have a medical emergency, receive proper medical care in an efficient manner which is appropriate for their medical needs. It will also ensure that inmates are medically transported as necessary during periods of facility unrest, or during times when facilities are busiest, such as shift change.
Inmate Medical Transportation Tags shall be utilized for all non-appointment transportation of inmates to medical facilities. Once the inmate has been transported, the medical tag shall be removed and discarded. In the event of a mass casualty situation, mass casualty triage tags shall be used in place of the Inmate Medical Transportation Tags.
When it is necessary for an inmate to be transported to an outside medical facility for treatment, the following color codes shall apply:
Red Tag (Immediate)
Red Tags will be used when an inmate’s medical needs require that he/she is transported immediately via paramedics.
Yellow Tag (Delayed)
Yellow Tags will be used when an inmate’s medical needs require that he/she is transported within a two hour period. This type of transportation may be done by either ambulance or radio car.
Note: “Non-emergency ambulance transportation is used for patients who need medical monitoring or medical services during transport,” Medical Services Bureau, Policy #313, Non-Emergency Response By Ambulance.
CHS staff shall follow established CHS policies and procedures governing the medical transportation of inmates. The treating physician/registered nurse practitioner (RNP) will determine if it is necessary for an inmate to be transferred to an outside medical facility. He/She will designate whether the inmate must be transported immediately or within two hours.
The treating physician/RNP will issue a transfer order indicating the necessary transportation method. It is the responsibility of medical personnel to inform custody personnel of the pending transfer, method of transportation, and estimated time of ambulance arrival (if applicable.)
While awaiting transportation, inmates shall be monitored by medical staff. The treating physician/RNP has the option of changing an inmate’s transportation method at any time to reflect the current medical condition of the inmate. In the event that security demands do not allow an inmate to be transported before the required deadline, medical staff shall conduct an immediate evaluation of the inmate to determine if emergent treatment is required.
After a transfer order has been issued, custody personnel will fill out the appropriate Inmate Medical Transfer Tag. This tag must then be affixed to the inmate’s wristband. This tag will serve as an indicator of the inmate’s current transportation status and will help ensure that the inmate receives transportation to a medical facility within the appropriate time frame.
In the event of a red tag, (immediate transport) standard emergency transportation procedures shall be followed. In the event of a yellow tag (within 2 hours transport), custody personnel shall be prepared to conduct transportation, by either radio car or as ambulance escort, within the permitted time limit. Custody personnel should always take into account the security needs of the facility when arranging and conducting transportation.
If security demands do not allow transportation of an inmate within the required time limits, notification shall be made to the facility watch commander, as well as the physician or facility supervisor/lead nurse on duty. A missed transportation deadline shall be entered in the facility log, along with the reason why the transportation requirements could not be met. The involved inmate shall then be evaluated by medical staff to determine the appropriate course of action.
Note: When ambulance and/or paramedic services are required, refer to Custody Division Manual section, 5-03/090.00, Ambulance and Paramedic Services.