MEDICAL
BACKGROUND AND PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK
The Brookhaven National Laboratory
medical care to the exposed
(BNL) medical program has been providing
It has on file the exten-
population for 32 years.
sive medical records obtained during this period, and its physicians and support
staff have an acquaintance with the health problems of the exposed group which
is both comprehensive
and yet specialized
has at hand noted authorities
in terms of radiation exposure.
in radiation medicine and radiation
Many of these individuals have been involved with the Marshall
program first-hand.
can, in many ways, be considered
a “doctor-patient”
and their families which
relationship.
The format of the annual examinations will not be changed.
Reliance on sub-
primarily universi,ty-based, will guarantee a continually
Laboratory, radiogra~~c,
maintained
Islands medical
to evolve which, while having had its ups and
downs, provide a familiarity with exposed individuals
program.
physics.
The personal contact which has existed over many years
has permitted a relationship
specialists,
It
and other diagnostic
and updated as necessary.
updated
techniques will be
To optimize the accessibility
to the
exposed persons ~: the sizeable medical teams at the time of the annual examina4
tions, there must’be continued dependence on the Liktanur 111 or an equivalent
vessel .
Transportation
of the exposed persons to Majuro for examination
for the time being, an unsatisfactory
lifestyly, an inconvenience
alternative.
It is disruptive
is,
of island
to the elderly and disabled, and an unnecessary
shift of part of the responsibility
the program to the beneficiaries
to provide accessible medical care from
of the program.
While the annual examination mission will not decrease
in size,, other aspects
of the primary care effort of the present medical program will be trimmed.
It
is not the purpose of the BNL program to duplicate efforts of other health
care programs.
The purpose is, instead, to provide optimal care to the exposed
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