ALCOAST 355/08
COMDTNOTE 6230
SUBJ: ANNOUNCING PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT (PHA): PILOT TESTING
A. MEDICAL MANUAL, COMDTINST M6000.1(SERIES)
1. THE PHA FOCUSES ON FORCE HEALTH PROTECTION AND MISSION
READINESS.  THE ABILITY TO KEEP COAST GUARD PERSONNEL HEALTHY,
MEDICALLY READY, AND FIT TO DEPLOY IS THE KEY ELEMENT OF FORCE
HEALTH PROTECTION.
2. TO ENSURE MEDICAL READINESS, THE COAST GUARD, IN ALIGNMENT WITH
THE OTHER MILITARY SERVICES, WILL IMPLEMENT THE PERIODIC HEALTH
ASSESSMENT (PHA) DURING THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.  THIS INCLUDES AN
ANNUAL FACE TO FACE ASSESSMENT FOR ALL ACTIVE DUTY (AD) AND
SELECTED RESERVE (SELRES) PERSONNEL WHICH CONSOLIDATES CLINICAL
PREVENTIVE SCREENING TESTS, IMMUNIZATIONS, SURVEILLANCE OF
OCCUPATIONAL RISKS, MEDICAL RECORD REVIEW, ASSESSMENT OF DEPLOYMENT
READINESS, AND COUNSELING THAT TARGETS THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS RISK
FACTORS AND BEHAVIORS.  THE PHA REINFORCES THE COAST GUARD HEALTH
SYSTEMS TRANSITION TO A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BASED ON PREVENTION WITH
EMPHASIS PLACED ON CLINICAL PREVENTIVE SERVICES.
3.  ONCE FULLY IMPLEMENTED, THE PHA WILL BE PERFORMED DURING THE
MEMBERS BIRTH MONTH AND REPLACE THE 5 YEAR PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.
ALL OTHER SPECIAL PHYSICAL EXAMS SUCH AS DOBMERB, MEPS,
COMMISSIONING, ENLISTMENT, RETIREMENT, CONFINEMENT, RELAD,
AVIATION, LSO AND DIVE WILL REMAIN AS REQUIRED AND BE CONDUCTED PER
REFERENCE A.
4. THE PHA WILL BE PERFORMED AT THE COAST GUARD CLINIC WHERE THE AD
OR SELRES MEMBER RECEIVES THEIR PRIMARY CARE SERVICES. COAST GUARD
AD OR SELRES MEMBERS WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO A DOD MILITARY TREATMENT
FACILITY OR TO A CIVILIAN TRICARE PROVIDER WILL HAVE THEIR PHA
PERFORMED BY THE DOD RESERVE HEALTH READINESS PROGRAM (RHRP).   THE
RHRP USES A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF APPROXIMATELY 45,000 PRIVATE
PROVIDERS OF VARIOUS DISCIPLINES WHO ARE TRAINED SPECIFICALLY ON
PERFORMING THE PHA.  PILOT TESTING OF THE RHRP PROCESS IS EXPECTED
IN OCTOBER OF 2008.
5. IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY TRANSITION FROM THE 5 YEAR PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION TO THE PHA, PILOT TESTING WILL BE PERFORMED AT 5 COAST
GUARD CLINICS - CG HQ HSC, CG YARD, ATC MOBILE, ISC SEATTLE, AND
ISC PORTSMOUTH.  THESE CLINICS HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING ON PHA
REQUIREMENTS AND WILL BEGIN CONDUCTING THE PHA IN LIEU OF THE 5
YEAR PHYSICAL EXAM EFFECTIVE 1 AUGUST 2008.
6.  AFTER PILOT TESTING IS COMPLETED, THE REMAINING CG CLINICS AND
SERVICE AREAS COVERED BY RHRP WILL BEGIN IMPLEMENTING THE PHA.  THE
GOAL IS TO HAVE THE PHA FULLY IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT THE COAST
GUARD BY JANUARY 2009.
7.  THE PHA POLICY WILL BE PROMULGATED WITH THE PUBLISHING OF THE
PHA INSTRUCTION AND WITH UPDATES TO REF A.
8.  FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING PHA PILOT TESTING CONTACT LCDR JAMES
CANNON BY E-MAIL AT JAMES.D.CANNON(AT)USCG.MIL OR (202) 475-5183.
FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING PHA AND RHRP POLICY, CONTACT CDR ERICA
SCHWARTZ BY E-MAIL AT ERICA.G.SCHWARTZ(AT)USCG.MIL OR (202) 475-
5172.
9. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE
SENDS.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.