Posted:
July 25, 2008
The U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center (NMC) has started using new medical guidelines to evaluate applications for original and renewal merchant mariner documents and licenses. The new guidelines will have a significant impact on mariners applying for the renewal of their documents, particularly if they have any health-related issues.
The guidelines have been under review by a Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee working group for the past three years. The final draft recommendations were forwarded to the Coast Guard in the spring of 2008.
While the NVIC, along with MERPAC’s recommendations, are reportedly being reviewed by senior Coast Guard officials, a policy decision was made to begin using the new medical guidelines and hearing and vision standards at the NMC, NMC personnel have stated. There is currently no projection as to when the Coast Guard will publish the final document or whether they will incorporate any of MERPAC’s recommendations.
There is no definitive document to reference yet. However, AMO National President Tom Bethel is working with AMO staff and officials to ensure that any reliable information available about the medical standards is provided to the membership. Mike Murphy, AMO director of government relations, has begun an outreach program to the membership incorporating key elements of the latest draft medical NVIC.
"The new guidelines are considerably more rigid than the old ones," Murphy said. "But, with knowledge and time, they can be managed."
Murphy is working with AMO representatives on all coasts and the Great Lakes to provide members onboard ships with selected excerpts of the standards. He will also be attending the membership meetings in Dania Beach and the area meetings as they are scheduled around the country in an effort to reach as many AMO members as possible.
Murphy's presentations include a discussion of hearing and vision standards; medications; body mass index; alcohol and drug dependency/abuse definitions; and the 201 defined medical conditions that will require a waiver. Many of the conditions listed in the new guidelines could require considerable time to meet the requirements for a waiver.
Murphy recommends that members with known medical problems use the handouts he provides and work with their doctors and the medical staff at NMC up to a year prior to their document's expiration date to ensure they obtain the waivers needed for renewal. An alphabetical list of referenced medical conditions that would require a waiver is available on the AMO Currents Web site at www.amo-union.net. Waiver requirements for these conditions will be available from AMO union representatives.
To obtain a list of these conditions by e-mail, AMO members can contact an AMO union official or Murphy directly.
Concurrent with the outreach, AMO Plans has developed a Wellness Program that would assist AMO members who may be affected to meet the new guidelines and standards. This forward-looking program is part of the larger plan to minimize the impact of the new medical standards. More information on the Wellness Program will be provided to the membership as it develops.
The keys to managing the new medical guidelines and hearing and vision standards include: knowledge of the requirements, starting the renewal process early and seeking early assistance from the Wellness Program coordinator for potentially disqualifying medical conditions, Murphy said. AMO and AMO Plans are working together to ensure that AMO members are prepared.
New Coast Guard medical guidelines, hearing and vision standards for mariners
The U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center (NMC) has started using new medical guidelines to evaluate applications for original and renewal merchant mariner documents and licenses. The new guidelines will have a significant impact on mariners applying for the renewal of their documents, particularly if they have any health-related issues.
The guidelines have been under review by a Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee working group for the past three years. The final draft recommendations were forwarded to the Coast Guard in the spring of 2008.
While the NVIC, along with MERPAC’s recommendations, are reportedly being reviewed by senior Coast Guard officials, a policy decision was made to begin using the new medical guidelines and hearing and vision standards at the NMC, NMC personnel have stated. There is currently no projection as to when the Coast Guard will publish the final document or whether they will incorporate any of MERPAC’s recommendations.
There is no definitive document to reference yet. However, AMO National President Tom Bethel is working with AMO staff and officials to ensure that any reliable information available about the medical standards is provided to the membership. Mike Murphy, AMO director of government relations, has begun an outreach program to the membership incorporating key elements of the latest draft medical NVIC.
"The new guidelines are considerably more rigid than the old ones," Murphy said. "But, with knowledge and time, they can be managed."
Murphy is working with AMO representatives on all coasts and the Great Lakes to provide members onboard ships with selected excerpts of the standards. He will also be attending the membership meetings in Dania Beach and the area meetings as they are scheduled around the country in an effort to reach as many AMO members as possible.
Murphy's presentations include a discussion of hearing and vision standards; medications; body mass index; alcohol and drug dependency/abuse definitions; and the 201 defined medical conditions that will require a waiver. Many of the conditions listed in the new guidelines could require considerable time to meet the requirements for a waiver.
Murphy recommends that members with known medical problems use the handouts he provides and work with their doctors and the medical staff at NMC up to a year prior to their document's expiration date to ensure they obtain the waivers needed for renewal. An alphabetical list of referenced medical conditions that would require a waiver is available on the AMO Currents Web site at www.amo-union.net. Waiver requirements for these conditions will be available from AMO union representatives.
To obtain a list of these conditions by e-mail, AMO members can contact an AMO union official or Murphy directly.
Concurrent with the outreach, AMO Plans has developed a Wellness Program that would assist AMO members who may be affected to meet the new guidelines and standards. This forward-looking program is part of the larger plan to minimize the impact of the new medical standards. More information on the Wellness Program will be provided to the membership as it develops.
The keys to managing the new medical guidelines and hearing and vision standards include: knowledge of the requirements, starting the renewal process early and seeking early assistance from the Wellness Program coordinator for potentially disqualifying medical conditions, Murphy said. AMO and AMO Plans are working together to ensure that AMO members are prepared.