For Our Patients

Our patients are inmates currently incarcerated in one of our contracted correctional facilities.  If this applies to you or your family member please refer below for basic information regarding correctional healthcare.   Please note this information generally outlines how services inside SHP facilities are handled, however we suggest that each inmate reference the facility’s jail handbook for more specific instruction.

SHP Medical Duties

SHP has contracted with your facility to provide inmate healthcare services within the jail.  Medical duties will include ordering and passing of all medications, regular sick call clinics for the inmates, physician sick call and coordination of outside specialty services and or clinics if needed.  The medical staff will alert the officers of any need for inmate transport for outside services to regularly scheduled appointments made by the medical staff.  However, the patient will NOT be told of appointment dates/times.  Medical duties do not include diet requests, commissary requests, and/or requests for extra mattresses, special shoes, etc., unless medically warranted.  For these requests, please follow instruction from the jail handbook.

Inmate Requests to See Medical Staff

All inmates requesting to see the medical staff must complete a sick call slip.  This includes:  medical; dental; and mental health services.  The sick call slips will be gathered in a timely manner.  The nurse will alert the correctional officers of those inmates to be seen for sick call, and they will be brought to medical for assessment at the scheduled sick call times.   Inmates will be charged a co-pay for services requested, as well as for medications, in accordance with jail policy.  If you have a medical request, please complete a sick call form so you may be triaged accordingly.

Medication Passes

Medication pass times will be based on medication orders, and therefore dosages may be changed to accommodate medication pass times.  Further, medications may change in appearance due to generic substitutions being made. Medications taken prior to incarceration may be verified with your prescribing provider.

Inmate Requests to See Private Physician and/or Requests to go to the Hospital

Any patient who requests to see their own private physician and/or requests to go to the hospital will be responsible for the prior payment to the County of those services if such is warranted and approved.  This must be cleared by the Medical Staff and Jail Administration.  Further, any prescription received from a private physician and/or the hospital will be responsibility of the patient to pay prior to receiving the medications.  Also, the County Jail will have a limited narcotic usage policy and therefore any narcotic medications will be reviewed by medical staff and may be changed by the physician/medical staff to a non-narcotic substitute and/or a generic substitution, if warranted.

Medical Emergency

In the event of a medical emergency, patients should notify the correctional officers immediately.  The correctional officer(s) will contact the medical staff to handle the medical emergency.

Medical Co-Pay Charges

If there is a medical co-pay in place within your facility the patient’s commissary account will be charged.  The patient will be charged for medical services, medications, etc. as outlined in the Inmate Jail Handbook or the sick call slip, in accordance with jail policy.  Keep in mind, the commissary has several over-the-counter medications available to the patient.

History and Physical-TB Screening and/or Testing

If a patient has any special medical conditions, he/she should be sure to inform the medical staff at the time of his/her medical interview.  Previous treatment records from the patient’s provider may be required and therefore the patient will be required to sign an authorization release of records form.  Without receipt of the treatment records, and/or verification of previous medical history, medications will not be distributed to the patient unless ordered by the Physician.

Medical Records

To protect patient privacy, you’ll need to print and complete the Authorization for Release of Patient Medical Records form to request a copy of your medical records. Please fax, mail, or email the completed form to our office:

Fax: 423-553-5645
Email: operations@southernhealthpartners.com
Mailing Address: 2030 Hamilton Place Boulevard, Ste. 140, Chattanooga, TN 37421

There will be a copying and mailing charge assessed for all requests, and once payment (money order or cashier’s check only) is received, records will be released as directed.

Family Requests/Medical Confidentiality

Under HIPAA and medical confidentiality rules, no medical information will be released to family members, friends, etc. A formal request may be made upon the patient’s consent and authorization, and fees will be charge according to rules and regulations.

Right to Refuse Treatment

A patient has the right to refuse medical treatment. Upon patient’s refusal, the patient will be asked to sign a Refusal of Treatment and Release of Responsibility form. The patient will then assume all personal responsibility for the conditions that may occur as a result of his/her refusal of treatment. If the patient later decides to seek medical treatment, the patient must notify the medical staff immediately.