On November 9, 1992, Prison Medical Services, the newest division under EBR
EMS, assumed operations of the medical services provided to all inmates incarcerated at
the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Prison Medical Services is a unique system in that it
provides 24 hour clinical care in addition to 24 hours Advanced Life Support coverage.
Prison Medical Services attends to the needs of approximately 1500 inmates daily using a
team of medics and nurses. The inmates have access to seeing one of two licensed
physicians 5 days a week, a psychiatrist twice a week, and a dentist, social worker, and a
X-ray technician once a week.
Just months after its inception, Prison Medical Services implemented a
Blood borne
Pathogens Program which provides education and safety for all its employees. Included in
this program is the three shot series of the Hepatitis B vaccine, the TB Tine skin test,
and continuing education. In-services educates our employees on the signs and symptoms of
tuberculosis as well as prevention of this disease.
Together with the Department of Public Health, Prison Medical Services has initiated
the Sexually Transmitted Disease Program at the prison in which every inmate that is
booked is tested within 24 hours of booking and treated, if necessary within 48 hours.
This program also educates every inmate on the dangers as well as the signs and symptoms
of STD's.
Prison Medical Services' STD program has proven so successful that it has become the
pilot program for other jails and prisons state-wide.
Prison Medical Services has taken its role as pioneer in this endeavor by providing
detailed instructions that teach nurses throughout the state the proper direction in this
program. These nurses will be responsible for the implementation of STD Programs in their
own community jails.
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