annual-report-2014

T
Division of Medical
and Forensic Services
he Division of
Medical and Forensic
Services is the treatment
entity of the Department.
Staff within the division
are integral to providing
constitutionally appropriate
health and behavioral
health care to approximately
2,700 inmates and
civil committees in our custody.
A significant number
of these individuals present
with severe medical and
behavioral health issues. In
collaboration with community
physicians, hospitals,
and contracted entities, the
Division strives to continue
to meet those needs
by managing a delivery
system that focuses on services
that are appropriate
and cost effective.
The focus for the coming
year will be on expanding
the use of technology to
Helen Hanks, M.M., Director
enhance efficiency through
acquisition of an electronic
health record system and
better partnering with community
care providers to
effectively transition offenders
to the community.
Behavioral Health
Services
The Department offers
a comprehensive set of
behavioral health services
to assist with the complexity
of our clients’ needs. Due to
the increasingly high number
of offenders entering the
prison system with diagnosable
needs, Medical/Forensics
has established a community
mental health and
intervention services model
within corrections. Inpatient
needs are served through
the Secure Psychiatric Unit
(SPU). The Department
has established three units
for residential treatment
needs at the three prison
sites: The Residential
Treatment Unit (RTU) in
Concord specifically for
men; the Wellness Block at
the Berlin facility for men;
and the Wellness Block for
women at the State Prison
in Goffstown.
The Division looks forward
to the opening of the
Focus unit (a substance
use treatment unit) at
the Berlin facility that will
address our high need/
high risk drug and alcohol
population. All facilities now
offer intensive drug and alcohol
treatment along with
collaborative interventions
for those with co-occurring
disorders.
Secure Psychiatric Unit
The Secure Psychiatric
Unit offers a psychiatric
hospital level of care within
a secure setting. The SPU
serves offenders from state
and county correctional
facilities who are in acute
psychiatric need and patients
committed through
the NH Judicial system (in
accordance with civil commitment
statutes) due to
mental illness and a level
of dangerousness not able
to be treated in a less restrictive
environment. The
SPU is also designated to
treat individuals committed
under the State’s Sexually
Violent Predator law.
The SPU provides quality
psychiatric care via its
team of highly dedicated
psychiatric, clinical, nursing,
and security staff.
There are approximately 50
hours per week of structured
and unstructured
therapeutic and diversional
interventions available
for residents, contingent
upon individual treatment
(Continued)
Annual Report SFY 2014
19