Manual of the Medical Department (NAVMED P-117): Chapter 15: Medical Examinations: Introduction

15-6 Conducting the Examination

Department of the Navy
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

(1 ) Medical examinations will be performed by Navy medical officers or other credentialed providers. Dental examinations will be performed by Navy dental officers, if available, following articles 6-99 and 6-99A for Reserves. All examiners, regardless of clinical specialty, must be familiar with Department of the Navy (DON) physical standards. If Navy medical officers or other Navy credentialed providers are not available, the medical examination may be conducted by other Department of Defense (DOD) physicians or credentialed civilian contract physicians. All physical examinations will be signed by the physician conducting the examination or sewing as the proctor for a non-physician credentialed provider.

(2) At a minimum, unless otherwise noted in this chapter, the medical examination will include items 18 through 43 of the Report of Medical Examination, Standard Form 88 (SF-88), and the studies listed in article 15-9.

(3) Examinees will be carefully questioned about their past and present medical history, especially serious illness, injury, chronic condition, or operation. The completed Report of Medical History, Standard Form 93 (SF-93), or Officer's Physical Examination Questionnaire (NAVMED 6120/2), is essential to a complete medical examination.

(4) All examiners will exercise care in conducting an examination and must accurately record all findings. Examiners should, within reason and good practice, order additional diagnostic studies to determine the medical status of the examinee. Results of such studies must be summarized on the SF-88, recorded on the Consultation Sheet (SF-513), or, if from a civilian consultant, on letterhead stationary.

(5) Examinations will be conducted with propriety and due regard for privacy. Stand-by attendants of the same sex as the examinee shall be available or physically present during an examination, depending upon local standards of practice and/or the examinee's preference.