regularly stnéeduiea, céntraii1zea \/ wasnington, v.L.)planningsessionsww coordinate and clarify the various interrelationships and responsiblities for all concerned. The agenda should be circulated months in advance by the coordin- ating agency, asking for additional items for discussion prior to the meeting. The field representatives should include some representative from the Trust Territories, if possible, to anticipate or preclude misunderstandings with this vital administrative link. Such meetings would bring a sense of "common purpose" to all of the participants and allow each unit to clarify its role in relationship to the total effort. One of the most vexing problems I encountered was the absence of medical records. We had comparative lab data from previous reports but the clinical data was rudimentary or not available at all. I realize this field trip was dedicated to a review of the thyroid problems, but unfortunately each patient had other problems that may have interacted with, or actually taken precedence over the thyroid problems. I found it very difficult to play with half a deck. My clinical judgement must be based on an evaluation of all of the available data - not just a few sentences describing the previous physical examination of the thyroid. The patients seemed confused by the fact that we were "only interested in their thyroids” and that Dr. Knudsen and John Iaman would take care of the rest of their complaints. I was fortunate enough to see some of the general sick call patients and there was a plethora of serious medical problems. nutritional. In my opinion, the principal problems were In fact, when we landed on Rongelap, the first thing we were told was, "We are starving." That was really the community's "chief complaint". afraid the medical team did little to deal with that problem. I am