b. Patients are often admitted to a medical care facility for inpatient care. They should have a
tamperproof, nontransferable band placed on either wrist for ID purposes. Patient movement control is
restricted in order to provide necessary medical care. Their movement is also controlled to preclude
access to unauthorized areas. Policies should define areas of free access to unescorted inpatients.
Such areas may be reading rooms or visitors' lounges. Inpatients must be offered a place where
valuables can be safely stored.
c. Outpatients may be required to disrobe for examinations or testing. They should be given a
place for securing their valuables. X-ray departments, for example, usually have a large number of
people to leave valuables during X-ray sessions. It may not be possible to provide security lockers. If
this is the case, staff must be alert and provide security of valuables.
d. Visitors are normally restricted by time and location. Many areas in the MEDCEN/MEDDAC
must have restricted access. These would preclude visitor access. When possible administrators
should consider routing visitor traffic to patient rooms. This will avoid visitors entering secured areas.
Directional signs should be posted. This will help prevent visitors being lost and crossing unauthorized
areas. For greatest effectiveness, visiting hours must be properly enforced. Visitor's passes are also
desirable security measures for identifying those persons authorized in a certain area.
e. Employees at medical facilities may be extended similar restrictions as visitors when entering
areas with controlled access. The pharmacy is one area. Here drugs or controlled substances are
handled. All employees should not have access to these. Medical personnel may be required to wear
ID cards, tags, or badges. Lockers or like means of security should be provided for the staff.
f. Staff and visitor parking should be well lit. These areas should be given police protection for
shift changes during the hours of darkness.
g. Hospitalized Prisoners. Medical care and treatment of the hospitalized prisoners is common.
COs of medical facilities must designate an area within the hospital for this treatment. Parolees,
minimum and medium custody prisoners do not require armed guards, but they must be closely
supervised by specific hospital staff. Maximum custody prisoners in hospitals require guards at all
times. Whenever possible, these guards should be provided by the prisoner's parent unit rather than
the post PM. Unarmed guards may be used on other than maximum custody prisoners, if the
confinement facility CO decides the circumstances warrant.
4. Security Awareness Considering Medical Records.
a. Medical records are documents with information about findings, diagnosis, or therapy recorded
by or for the physician or dentist. Outpatient treatment records, health records, and x-rays are medical
records, also. The data contained in these records are classified as "private," since it is of concern only
to the patient and his physician.
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MP1003
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