Section 1: Purpose of the Screening and Medical Clearance Process
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Section 1: Purpose of the Screening and Medical Clearance Process
Section 1: Purpose of the Screening and Medical Clearance Process
The purpose of the Peace Corps screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for the Peace Corps applicant, to generate understanding about the screening and medical clearance process, to minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers, and to allow completion of service without compromising the volunteers' entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in PDF format in the "Peace Corps Library."
Applicants are urged to click the link below to read the guidelines as they apply to medical conditions at the top of this page. Our goal is that this information will help applicants and their physicians understand the screening process and the restriction criteria that protect the health of prospective Peace Corps Volunteers. Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to leave their comments on the guidelines and restrictions with any suggestions for changes so that they can be incorporated into future guidelines.
If you have comments on the Medical Guidelines go to the top of this page and click on the "Create New Conversation" button to leave a message.
Section 1: Purpose of the Screening and Medical Clearance Process
The purpose of the Peace Corps screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for the Peace Corps applicant, to generate understanding about the screening and medical clearance process, to minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers, and to allow completion of service without compromising the volunteers' entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in PDF format in the "Peace Corps Library."
Applicants are urged to click the link above to read the guidelines as they apply to medical conditions at the top of this page. Our goal is that this information will help applicants and their physicians understand the screening process and the restriction criteria that protect the health of prospective Peace Corps Volunteers. Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to leave their comments on the guidelines and restrictions with any suggestions for changes so that they can be incorporated into future guidelines.
If you have comments on the Medical Guidelines go to the top of this page and click on the "Create New Conversation" button to leave a message.
An RPCV looks at the Peace Corps Screening and Medical Clearance Process
"As an older – 60 years old – applicant for the Peace Corps in 2005, I found that the medical selection process for the Peace Corps can be maddening. This was the case even though I was applying to serve again, after a 37 year gap (Nepal, 68-70). I found that the Peace Corps provides a minimum of useful information about the possible twists and turns that can occur and what alternatives the applicant can pursue at each point in the process. My impression is that the paramount value for the Peace Corps seems to be secrecy, to reduce the power of the applicant and maximize the power of the Peace Corps selection personnel."
"As a result of our experiences with this process, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request and obtained a copy of the medical selection/screening guidelines the Peace Corps uses in evaluating the medical qualifications of applicants. I learned of the existence of the guidelines by accident during as my application was being reviewed and immediately asked to see them. After a month of evasion, I secured a copy of the guidelines relevant to my own medical issues (cardiology). I was shocked to find the guidelines to be woefully out of date, embarrassingly out of date, and I then feared that they would prejudice my application. I forcefully argued that the guidelines were out of date, and supplied extensive clinical trail and other documentation to prove that point. The Peace Corps refused to reconsider the guidelines and would not permit me to base an appeal on the obsolescence of the guidelines. In the end, I was accepted to serve again in the Peace Corps and am now serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer, together with my wife, who is also a 60s RPCV. But I found the medical screening process to be a bitter experience."
Follow this link to read the entire story: An RPCV looks at the Peace Corps Screening and Medical Clearance Process
Complete List of Peace Corps Screening and Medical Clearance Guidelines
Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to leave their comments on the following guidelines and restrictions with any suggestions for changes so that they can be incorporated into future guidelines.
- Section 10: Ear Nose Throat: Cerumen, Cholesteatoma, Hearing Aid, Hearing Deficit, Congenital Deafness, Malignancies of the Ear, Nose, and Throat, Hypopharynx, Larynx, Tonsil, Mastoiditis, Mastoidectomy, Meniere's Disease,Otitis Media Acute, Chronic, or Serious, Myringotomy, Tympanoplasty, Myringotomy with insertion of tubes, Tinnitus, (13 pages)
- Section 11: Ear Nose Throat: Vertigo, Deviated Nasal Septum, Fracture of the Nose, Nasal Polyps, Nasal Polypectomy, Ethmoidectomy, Sinusitis, Ethmoidectomy, Sinusotomy, Leukoplakia, Erythroplasia, Malignancies of the Mouth, Nodules of the Vocal Cords, Sialolithiasis, Sialosis, Sialoadenectomy, Tonsillitics, Tonsillectomy, Adenoidectomy (11 pages)
- Section 12: Endocrinology: Diabetes Meillitus, Insulin Dependent and Non-Insulin Dependent, Diabetes Insipidus, Gout, Hypoglycemia, Insulinomus, Addison's Disease, Pituatary Adenomas, Acromegaly, Carcinoma of the Thyroid, Solitary Thyroid Nodule (10 pages)
- Section 13: Endocrinology: Hyperthyroidism, Graves Disease, Toxic Adenoma, Toxic Multinodular Goiter, Diffuse Nodular Goiter, Hypothyroid, Non-Specific, Non-Toxic Nodular Goiter, Thyroidectomy, Thyroiditis, Hashimoto's, Sub-Acute Thyroiditis, Overweight, Underweight (8 pages)
- Section 14: Gastroenterology: Achalasia, Esophageal Stricture, Obstruction or Barrett's Esophagus, Esophageal Tear, Esophagitis, Gastritius, Peptic Ulcer Disease, Gastrectomy, Pyloric Stenosis, Bowel Obstruction, Intussusception, Colitis, Ulcerative, Proctitis, Crohn's Disease, Diverticular Disease, Diverticulitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lactose Intolerance (16 pages)
- Section 15: Gastroenterology: Colonic Polyps, Polypectomy, Appendicitis, Appendectomy, Bowel Anastomosis, Colon Resection, Colostomy, Ileostomy, Proctocolectomy, Anal Fissures and Fistulas, Anorectal Abscess, Hemorrhois, Hemorrhoidectomy, Benign Liver Cysts and Adenomas, Cirrhosis, Ascites, Hepatitis, Gilbert's disease, Rotor's Syndrome, Cholelithiasis, Cholecystitis, Cholecystectomy, Pancreatitis, Hiatial Hernia, Umbilical Hernia, Inguinal Hernia (14 pages)
- Section 16: Genitourinary: Cancer of the Testicle, Orchiectomy, Epididymitis, Hydrocele, Spermatocele, Varicocle, Begnign Prostatic Hypertrophy, Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (Turp), Partial Prostatectomy, Prostatitis Acute and Chronic, Carcinoma of the Prostate, Radical Prostatectomy, (9 pages)
- Section 17: Genitourinary: Testicular Torsion, Orchiopexy, Orchiectomy, Undescended Testicle, Carcinoma of the Kidney, Nephrectomy, Solitary Kidney, Horseshoe Kidney, Cystic Disease of the Kidneys, Single or Multiple Cysts, Polycystic Disease, Glomerulonephritis, Nephritis, Renal Failure, Hydronephrosis, Nephrolithiasis, Ureterolithiasis (9 pages)
- Section 21: Gynecology: Abnormal Menstrual Bleeding Patterns, Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Premenstrual syndrome, Ovarian Cancer, Ovarian Cysts, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding, Endometrial Cancer, Endometrial Hyperplasia, Endometriosis, Uterine Cancer, Uterine Leiomyomas,Bartholin Gland Infections, Vagina and Vulva Cancer, Vaginitis, Contraception, Termination of Pregnancy, Mammography, Gynecology Surgical Procedures, Other Gynecology Disorders (46 pages)
- Section 27: Personality Disorders, Alcohol Related Disorders, Substance Related Disorders, Brief Psychotic Disorder, Schizophrenia, Other Thought Disorders, Dissociative Disorders, Factitious Disorders, Impulse Control Disorders, Somatization Disorders, Short Term Academic, Family, and Support Group Counseling, Panic Disorder, Phobias (41 pages)
- Section 28: Neurology: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Bell's Palsy, Headache, Malignancies, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis, Myopathies, Narcolepsy, Parkinson's disease, Post Polio Syndrome, Seizure Disorder, Ventricular Shunt (14 pages)
- Section 29: Ophthalmology: Amblyopia, Impaired vision, Strabismus, Conjunctivitis, Cataract, Lens Implant, Chalazion, Corneal Disease, Enucleation,Glaucoma, Floaters and Flashers, Herpes Keratitis, Hordeolum, Optic Nerve disease, Optic Neuritis, Retinal Disease, Retinal Detachment, Uveitis, Iritis, Iridocyclitis (16 pages)
- Section 30: Orthopedics:Amputations, Bursitis, Fractures, Ligaments, Sprains, Tendons, Reconstruction, Bunions, Bunionectomy, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Ganglion, (10 pages)
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Story Source: Peace Corps Library
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Application Process; Screening; Medicine; Medical Restrictions; Medical Guidelines
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