Medical Services Division Operations

The Medical Services Division operates several clinical and screening sites:

1201 Commerce
1200 Baker Street
701 San Jacinto
1307 Baker Street

The Inmate Processing Center (IPC) at 1201 Commerce houses the intake screening team. Health care professionals interview all detainees prior to housing to identify problems that require immediate attention, and perform screening to identify active tuberculosis disease. The 1200 Baker Street Facility houses the main medical and support service sites as well as an infirmary and isolation areas. Physician and nursing services are provided 24 hours a day. On-site clinical care is also provided in various specialty areas. Support services include radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, dietary, infectious disease, dental, mental health and substance abuse counseling. On-site specialty clinics meet regularly: infectious disease, orthopedics, general surgery, OB/Gyn, chronic care and dialysis.

Mental Health Care:

The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA) of Harris County is dedicated to provide humane and professional treatment for the mentally ill. MHMRA staff offers screening services 24 hours a day on premises or on-call for emergencies. Detainees requiring intensive psychiatric treatment are transferred to the in-house inpatient unit and assigned to a treatment team consisting of a psychiatrist, case worker, nurse, psychologist, and mental health specialist.

Employment Opportunities:

Ongoing recruitment efforts involve hiring applicants for multiple health care provider positions in the various areas of the Harris County Sheriff's Office Medical Services Division.

Current openings in the Medical Division:

• Registered Nurses
• Licensed Vocational Nurses
• Medical Assistants
• Pharmacist
• X-Ray Technicians
• Dental Assistant
• Substance Abuse Counselor

If interested in learning more about health care employment opportunities offered by the Medical Services Division of the Harris County Sheriff's Office, direct inquires or send a resume to:

Harris County Sheriff's Office
Medical Services Division
Administration Office
1200 Baker Street
Houston, Texas 77002

You may fax a resume' for review to 713-755-1246 or visit the Human Resources Web Page.

Eye Glasses and Contact Solution:

Detainees requiring the use of eyeglasses or contacts will be allowed to keep their own eyeglasses with them upon being booked into the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Family members may also bring detainees personal glasses to the jail. The appropriate floor Sergeant must approve the glasses or contacts. In addition, detainees may submit a request to visit the on-site optometrist for an examination.

Sexually Transmitted Disease Program:

All detainees are tested for certain sexually transmitted diseases and treatment is offered when appropriate. Care is coordinated with the City of Houston Health Department.
HIV/AIDS testing and counseling is available upon request. Detainees can request testing or counseling by submitting a request slip to the HIV Department. All counseling and testing will be performed according to patient privacy guidelines.

Release of Medical Information:

Patients who wish to share their health information with family members, attorneys, friends, etc., will be required to sign a release of medical information form. The Harris County Sheriff's Office will comply with the regulations established by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Released from custody detainees may request copies of their medical records by writing to the address below:

Harris County Sheriff' Office
Attention: Medical Records Department
1200 Baker Street
Houston, Texas 77002

All requests for release of information should include name, all name alias, spn, date of birth, dates of incarceration and what information that he or she would like released to the recipient.

No medical information will be released via telephone. The Medical Division welcomes any health information on detainees prior or during their incarceration. If a family member, significant other, attorney or friend wishes to provide medical information to the Medical Division, they may send it to the above address Attention: Medical Records Department. The information received will become part of the Harris County Sheriff's Office medical record for the detainee.

Pharmaceuticals:

Prescribed medications are provided by the Harris County Sheriff's Office pharmacy as deemed appropriate by staff physicians. Under usual circumstances, medications brought into the jail will not be retained by the detainee; the medication will be placed into the detainee's property and will be returned to the individual when released from custody. Certain over the counter (OTC) medications are available for purchase directly by the detainee from the Harris County Sheriff's Office Commissary. For a list of available items that may be purchased from the commissary, visit the Harris County Sheriff's Office Commissary link.

Access to Care/Sick Call Request:

Detainees have access to the medical staff 24-hours a day, seven days a week. They may submit a sick call request for routine medical services. The security staff on the housing floors will provide sick call request forms to the detainees. Once the request has been received, the medical staff will review the request and determine appropriate action for the request.

Braces, Wheelchairs and Crutches:

Detainees may be allowed to continue to use assistive devices brought into the jail at the discretion of the staff physicians and/or the Medical Director.

Specialty Care by Harris County Hospital District

Detainees requiring specialized medical care will be referred to an outside provider as appropriate. Routine referrals will be made to the Harris County Hospital District. All specialized appointments are at the discretion of that agency and are not determined by the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Due to possible security breeches, detainees will not be informed of pending outside appointment dates. Upon release from custody, a detainee has the option of keeping the appointment that had already been scheduled by the Harris County Hospital District or following up with the health care provider of their choice.