5
operation,
other
functions
of the unit should
be continued.
Tklese include
the liaison
functian
which
aids
in the
transportation
and commur,lcaticin
pertaining
to patier,Ls~
and
The p, ssant
BNL Marshal lese Iabcil”atul-”ti
ia.borator’~ maintainanc=.
t~chni{:ia~; :+il] be retair+ed at 5(27. time,
inclusive
of the time
spent
on the medics]
missions>
so that those and cthe:nonclinical
activities
continue.
i-equire persistent
Cal-e and
Cnmplex
medical
activities
A formalized
attention
to detail
to avoid
unintentional
errors.
mechanism
to guard
against
these
and other
potential
mistakes
is
found
in quality
assurance
programs
now in operation
in most
hospitals.
Hospital
at ENL has been
The Medical
Department
accredited
by the Joint
Commission
Gn (+ccreditatian
of Hospitals,
the foremost
accrediti]>g
authority
in the U.S.
Clinical
pharmscy
services,
patient
csre
laborataries~
medical
records>
and martiy uther
items
are included
in a survey
by the JCGt-i.
accrediting
ambulatory
care units,
Recently
the 3C9H has begun
and the BNL Clinical
Research
Center,
an ambulatory
care units
i%
planniiag
to obtain
JCRH recognition.
The Marshall
Islands
pi-agi-am
needs
similar
approval
medical
from an outside
body.
If
possible,
this will be clone as part of the 13NL Clinicdl
Research
Center.
As the scop~
of medical
care provided
to the exposed
now
incre=isesp
the previously
defined
program
directed
at neoplastic
diseases
and other
unique
problems
possibly
induced
by the
exposure
will continue
tcI he carried
out.
include
a
These
cancer-oriented
exalnination,
special
attenticln
to endacrinolooic
disorders,
hematologic
testing,
and other
items
detailed
in the
long-term
plan of the me~ical
program
as presented
in .-,
1985.
vJill
continue
The HNL program
to evaluate
the exposed
population
for evidence
of increased
risk of c!isordei-s which
might
be indirectly
related
to their
exposure.
The goal of this
effort
is .a clinical
one: prevention
and early
diacjnos~s
and
tr~atment.
For the most part
these
will be serologic
surveys
OY
the type performed
in the past fur hepatitis
B, toxoplasmosis
and
prolactinomas.
The basic
requirement
for carrying
out a survey
continue
to be
that it have
clinical
relevance
of this sort will
exposed
population.
to
The serious
h~alth
effects
of diabetes,
hypertension
and
ether
illnesses
in the Exposed
popuIation~
as well as the
Mdrshallese
in general.
make
the delayed
effects
of radiatiGn
relatively
insignificant.
It is clear
that there
has developed
in the exposed
a serious
lCISS of perspective
as to what are ‘the
real
threats
to health.
It has taken
rnan’y years
of reinforcerr,ent
fram
the outside
to jr(print
the notion
that radiation
illrtess is
al l-fJer’V&iSIVe.
will
take years
to undo this
harm.
It
But the
attempt
must b= made because
far more serious
health
threats
proceed
apsce.
Educational
effa]-ts toward
this end will continue