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 7