OUR MISSION
The mission of the Clinical Services Bureau is to provide constitutionally mandated offender healthcare in a competent, caring and cost effective fashion within the overall mission of the Utah Department of Corrections.
Every inmate receives a medical screening upon arrival in the Receiving and Orientation unit. Newly arrived inmates are offered a complete physical exam by a Clinical Services Bureau staff member.
The Department’s Clinical Services Bureau operates infirmaries at both the Utah State Prison and the Central Utah Correctional Facility. The infirmaries are certified by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and offer comprehensive, on-site medical care where medical staff can treat or stabilize inmates needing health care. Inmates at both prisons may submit an Inmate Care Request slip to make an appointment with a health care professional. The requests are picked up daily and evaluated by medical staff to determine what level of care is appropriate. Clinics are daily with medication passes twice daily. Medical emergencies are handled immediately.
CONTACT
Clinical Services Bureau
P.O. Box 165300
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Telephone: 801-522-7293
SERVICES AVAILABLE
Medical Care
Physical/Recreational Therapy
X-ray Services
Specialty/Emergency Care via UMC
Dietitian Services
Telemedicine Services
OB/GYN Services
In-House Pharmacy
Palliative Care
Infectious Disease Services
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Mental/Behavioral Health Care
Dental Care
Vision Services
Chronic Care Management
Under State law, inmates are assessed a $5 co-pay for primary medical and dental care and are charged a $2 co-pay for prescription medication. When an inmate receives care in the community, he or she is responsible for 10 percent of the costs, with a cap of $2,000 per fiscal year. An inmate who has assets exceeding $200,000 upon arrival at the prison is expected to pay costs of all medical and dental care up to 20 percent of his or her total asset value. Offenders pay 50 percent of the cost for braces, eyeglasses, prosthetics and medical supplies. Offenders are responsible for 100 percent of the cost for dentures.
That said, health care is considered a basic need and is provided to every inmate regardless of ability to pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Shortly after arrival and while in Receiving and Orientation, an inmate will see health care staff and be offered the following:
— a nursing intake assessment to determine immediate health care needs;
— a physical exam by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner;
— a mental health evaluation;
— a dental screening.
A. An inmate completes an Inmate Care Request (ICR) form, available at each housing unit, to request health care. The inmate puts the completed ICR form in a sick-call box, which is checked daily by Clinical staff.
A. Generally, pill lines are available multiple times per day to inmates. Refills of long-term prescriptions are available once certain criteria are met.
A. Yes, a catalog of over-the-counter medications and supplies is available through the Commissary.
A. Yes, but an inmate must authorize and initiate that process through a GRAMA records request. The inmate requests a GRAMA form from his or her caseworker, fills it out as specifically as possible and returns it to the caseworker to be notarized. Unless indigent, an inmate must provide a blank money transfer form to cover the cost (25-cents per page) of duplicating the records. The complete form is then sent to the records specialist for review and response.
A. Yes. Inmates are offered a "Medical Information Release" form during intake to enable this sharing of information with a specific listed individual of their choice. If they want to initiate this authorization later in their incarceration (e.g. they choose not to authorize it during intake but later wish to grant the approval) then they should request the above-mentioned form from a caseworker. The inmate must fill out the form, have his or her caseworker notarize it and then ensure it is submitted to the Clinical Services Bureau. A designated staff member at the Bureau will make contact with the inmate's designated person to verify information and set up a passcode to be used when contacting the Bureau. Each release form will remain in effect permanently, but the inmate may revoke that authorization at any time they wish.
A. When an incarcerated individual is taken off prison property and enters the care of a treatment facility, the Department takes significant precautions to protect the individual’s safety along with our staff and medical providers.
If an incarcerated individual is hospitalized, it is the decision of the medical professionals to decide when communication should be initiated with the family of the individual. UDC has representatives on our team who facilitate those communications. Each incident is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Examples of when families may be notified include if the individual is near death or a decision needs to be made regarding an emergent procedure. Other scenarios may be considered upon the request of the hospital, but all decisions are vetted on an individualized case-by-case basis.
A. Inmates are encouraged to tell any staff member or submit an ICR form if they are struggling with thoughts of self harm. A crisis visit with a mental health professional will be arranged as soon as possible. Inmates who suspect another offender is considering suicide are encouraged to report that to staff immediately.
A. Yes, those arrangements can be made through an inmate's caseworker or housing unit officer.
A. Yes. Co-payment requirements changed in 2009. Inmates are assessed a $5 co-pay for primary medical care, $5 for dental care and $2 for prescription medication. For services provided outside of prison while still in the Department of Corrections' custody, the inmate is responsible for 10 percent of hospital care costs.
There is a cap on the inmate's share of expenses of $2,000 per fiscal year. An inmate with assets exceeding $200,000 upon entry into the Department's custody is responsible to pay costs of all medical and dental care up to 20 percent of the inmate's total asset value. After receiving medical and dental care equal to 20 percent of the inmate's total asset value, the inmate will be subject to the normal co-payments.
Inmates pay 50 percent of the cost for braces, eyeglasses, prosthetics and medical supplies. Inmates are responsible for 100 percent of the cost for dentures. However, no medical or mental health visit, procedure or supplies will be denied due to lack of funds.
A. Outside care is any health care provided by someone other than Department staff. This includes all appointments, surgeries, tests, X-rays, etc. conducted at outside health clinics and hospitals.
A. Telemedicine is available in the Wasatch Infirmary and uses a camera and a telephone connection to provide live-video conferences with specialists, who are able to see and converse with inmates.
Clinical Services Bureau Director
Amanda Alkema
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has appointed Amanda Alkema to serve as Interim Director of Clinical Services during the bureau’s pending move from the Utah Department of Corrections (UDC).
Alkema has worked in forensic and behavioral health for more than 15 years. She began her career providing mental health and substance use disorder treatment to adults, children, youth and families.
For the last 10 years, she has been at DHHS in a clinical and administrative role, developing and implementing behavioral health services and programs in addition to crisis stabilization and forensic programs. She has most recently served as Assistant Director of the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health, where she continues to improve access and quality of forensic and behavioral health services.
Alkema earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Criminal Justice from Weber State University in 2008. She received a Master’s degree in Social Work in 2009 from the University of Utah and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2011.