In Health Services we see medical problems similar to any that exist in the outside community, ranging from major to minor problems, acute illnesses or injuries to ongoing care for chronic diseases, preventative health care to end-of-life care. The nursing staff engages in over one thousand patient care contacts each day statewide and the Physician/Family Nurse Practitioner/ Physician's Assistant staff provides more than 250 on-site primary care appointments each day.

The Oregon Department of Corrections provides several levels of mental health treatment along with individualized case management. Behavioral health services are targeted to inmates with severe or persistent mental illness. Short-term services are available to inmates who are not mentally ill, but who show high suicide potential, or who are experiencing other emotional distress.

The Pharmacy and Medical Stores functional unit provides medications, medical supplies and medical equipment in support of the more than 400 Physicians, Nurses, Dentists, technicians and behavioral health professionals delivering health care to 13,500 male and female inmates in the system's 14 institutions statewide. Pharmacy and Stores centers in Salem and Ontario, prepare, package and ship over 25,000 prescriptions per month and purchase, repair and maintain the clinical and diagnostic equipment and the disposable and durable medical goods needed to deliver daily health services throughout the system and in forest and work camps.

The Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) has dental facilities in twelve institutions. Inmates housed in facilities without dental clinics are transported to the nearest ODOC facility for their dental needs. ODOC dental clinics are staffed by licensed Dentists and qualified Dental Assistants. All ODOC dental facilities are accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (www.ncchc.org)

To receive dental treatment, inmates send a request stating their dental problem to the dental clinic, and are then made an appointment. There are approximately 27,000 dental contacts statewide in a calendar year.

Emergency treatment and relief of pain is the first priority, but other medically necessary dental services are available. These include: Preventative treatments, routine fillings, and construction of dentures. These other, medically necessary services are prioritized based upon clinical findings and the severity of the problem. Inmates are also referred to specialists in the community when the services cannot be completed in the ODOC dental facility (oral surgery for instance.) Inmates must pay for any requested treatment that is deemed to be of limited medical value. Inmates may seek these optional services by utilizing the Purchase of Care Rule, and can go to a dentist in the community. In those cases, the inmate is responsible for all costs of treatment, escorts, and transportation when seeking outside optional services. Also, inmates must pay for dentures, as they become the inmate’s property.

Duties and responsibilities of the Medical Records Unit is to organize and maintain utilization review process, information services and patient records in order to meet the requirements set forth by the administrative rules, and federal and state laws pertaining to medical information.

The Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) provides general radiography services at 7 correctional institutions in Oregon. They are staffed by State of Oregon licensed Radiology Technicians or Limited Permit Holders who have had extensive training and experience. The Health Services division also employs a licensed Radiology Technician who oversees the radiological program. This individual assists in making recommendations for purchasing and/or maintenance and sets standards for radiographic quality.