Present
u]~exposed
pclicy
of
p~r~olls
referring
tn
the
selected
~arsh,~]
lese
medical
Health
problems
Services
in
will
be
ccntinued.
has been
the high rate of
of the BNL program
A h~ll~=i-k
“For annual
medical
compliance
amal~g the exposed
persons
the 1950’s?
examinations
which
rcmaill, as. they have since
availability
of the examinations
vc)lunta{-v’. To assurt? continued
medical
mis5iGn
to all expcsecl perz~ns
who desir~: them,? a second
mcJntFIs after
the fif5.t.
It is
will he car )-led out several
unrealistic
to think that all ej:poseci pei-sons desiring
examinations
will be available
at the tiflie of a si{~gle missiai~.
ai~d will
these
individuals
The second
trip is deslgnec! to Include
comprise
a physiciari~
nurse>
Iaboratcr’y
technician
and
Their
work will be performed
at Marshallese
administrator.
facilitie~
on Ebeye
and Majuro.
Nevertheless,
if trdvel
tl?e Optia]?
situations
permit
and clinical
justification
exists,
The latter
to travel
to Rongelap
and Utirik
should
be available.
island%
wGulcl be visited
to ensure
adequate
medical
Followup
of
It cannot
be
special
diagilo=tic
and therapeutic
problems.
expected
that the 4R!+CP will. be able to adeq’~ately
attend
to all
ths Specisi
needs
of the .exposed~ even
though
a medical
record
system
iintiicating those need%
maj be on hand.
A third visit
in
the ~~~rse
of a ye~r will be cal”]-ied out by one or two of the BNL
staff
t.o distribute
and collect
m=dical
r=cord
inform=tion~
document
adequat=
followup
of special
medical
problems,
and
r.alntain
close
working
relaticlns
LJith the 4GHCP,
PA’SO* and the
Marshallese
Health
Services.
As the medical
program
prepares
fur a Iong-term
con?mitmei~t
of health
care
tc the exposedj
a number
of
and an expansion
adjustments
should
UCCUI+.
One is the upc’;ating uf medical
examination
facilities
aboard
the Lik,tanu’r 111.
Diagnostic
facilities
are now excellent
in v]ew of the new x-ray equipment
and convenient
laboratory
space.
Medical
record
management
is. to
be-streamlined,
primarily
by increased
use of comp~terization.
for
the
annual
examination
mission
it will be
Except
unsatisfactory
tu transport
bulky
medical
records.
Computerization
of pertinent
clinical
data
is well under
way; a
portable
computer
will be used
for data
input
and clinical
car&?
ir< the field.
Hard copies
of examination
for-ms.~ ho”wever~ will be
mai]itained
and copied
for use by the Mar%hallese
Health
Services
arid the “ASHCP.
If the latter
program
is planning
to use
computerized
records
on visits
to distant
atolls>
compatible
systems
should
be evolved
to facilitate
trai>sfer of records” to
and frGm B;!L.
Clasillg
the Eb/~ye unit cut:, a!; impurtant
link betweer, BPJL
and the expased
people
which
tias existed
for 14 years.
While
clinical
justj ficatlol) f,o,-lnalr~taii]inq the unit will disappear
when
the 4AHCP
and PIarshallesc
t-tealth Services
are in full
.