Overview
The Department works diligently to maintain quality community standards of care for all individuals in our facilities. Healthcare provided to those in our custody include, but are not limited to:
- Medical care
- Mental health care
- Dental care
- Sex offender treatment
- Substance use disorder treatment
Access to care
Those in our care are provided with an orientation on how to access healthcare services. Each individual is assessed by qualified healthcare professionals to determine immediate and/or ongoing healthcare needs which are provided in line the with community standard of care. Individualized treatment plans are developed for those with ongoing healthcare needs.
They may request emergent, urgent, or routine care through all correctional staff or through our contracted healthcare providers. Healthcare is available at all DOC facilities. The provision of care varies between facilities, therefore individuals are maintained at facilities that can meet their healthcare needs. Clinical services and levels of care include, but are not limited to:
- Outpatient ambulatory care
- Acute and chronic care for clinical issues
- Onsite specialty care
- Onsite infirmary care
- Inpatient and outpatient specialty care services are also available as clinically indicated through community-based providers including, but not limited to; Lemuel Shattuck Hospital
- Specialized behavioral healthcare
MassHealth for returning citizens
During the reentry process, the Department enrolls returning citizens in MassHealth. The DOC partners with MassHealth to identify and enroll all eligible individuals to ensure access to care upon release. This has been nationally recognized as a model for other states to replicate. This partnership allows community access upon release to:
- Medical services
- Mental health services
- Substance use disorder treatment services
Access to medical records and information
Please use the below link to access the Guide for Obtaining Medical Records. This page will help guide you on obtaining medical records of those housed in DOC facilities only; if you are seeking to obtain the medical records of those housed in jails and houses of correction, you must contact that facility or the respective Sheriff’s Office.
Bridgewater State Hospital and the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center
Additional information about the Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) and the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) can be found the links below.