Medical Requirements for Working at the Colorado Department of Corrections
Correctional staff at the Colorado Department of Corrections must meet specific health requirements, including training in recognition and treatment of medical emergencies, particularly for diabetes management, infectious disease prevention, and mental health awareness.
Pre-Employment Medical Requirements
- Complete medical history and physical examination by a licensed healthcare provider 1
- Tuberculosis (TB) screening:
- Hepatitis B vaccination for all previously unvaccinated staff whose duties involve exposure to blood or potentially infectious body fluids 1
Ongoing Health Monitoring
- Annual TB screening for staff with negative baseline results 1
- Annual symptom screening for those with history of positive TB test 1
- Hepatitis B antibody testing 1-2 months after vaccination series completion for staff with continued patient contact 1
Required Training for Staff
Diabetes Management
- Recognition, treatment, and appropriate referral for hypo- and hyperglycemia 1
- Training to administer glucagon for severe hypoglycemia 1
- Recognition of signs of serious metabolic decompensation 1
- Implementation of protocols requiring notification of physicians for blood glucose results outside specified ranges 1
Infectious Disease Control
- Standard (universal) precautions for all contact with blood or body fluids 1
- Proper use of personal protective equipment (gloves, gowns, masks) 1
- Procedures to prevent needle sticks, including use of safer needle devices 1
- Appropriate disinfection of potentially contaminated surfaces and equipment 1
- Proper disposal of infectious material and contaminated clothing 1
Mental Health Services
- Training in suicide prevention, with specific attention to youth confined to their rooms 1
- Recognition of mental health issues, which affect approximately one-third to one-half of incarcerated individuals 2
Occupational Health Considerations
- Psychological capital (resilience, hope, optimism, self-efficacy) is important for correctional officers' well-being and can help mitigate job-related stress 3
- Correctional officers face increased risks of:
COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies
- Implementation of serial PCR testing, isolation/quarantine protocols, and masking 5
- Daily staff antigen testing during outbreaks 5
- Facility-wide COVID-19 vaccination 5
Workplace Policies and Procedures
- Comprehensive infection control plan covering all employees who could be exposed to infectious materials 1
- Coordination of medication administration and meals to prevent medical emergencies 1
- Protocols for transfer of inmates with medical conditions between facilities 1
- Systems to identify patients at greater risk for medical emergencies 1
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Inadequate training in emergency response: Ensure all staff receive regular updates on emergency protocols, particularly for diabetes management and mental health crises.
Poor coordination during inmate transfers: Implement standardized medical transfer summaries that include current medications, recent monitoring results, and scheduled appointments 1.
Insufficient infection control: Maintain strict adherence to bloodborne pathogen protocols and ensure proper personal protective equipment is always available 1.
Neglecting staff mental health: Provide resources to build psychological capital and resilience among correctional officers to reduce burnout and health complaints 3.
Inadequate documentation: Establish systems to record all medical information, including test results, in retrievable aggregate databases 1.