Department of Health Services (DHS)

Mission

To optimize and maintain Midshipmen physical and mental health in support for successful education and graduation of inspired leaders of exemplary character so they meet medical criteria required to serve the national security, marine transportation, and economic needs of the United States as licensed Merchant Marine Officers and Commissioned Officers in the Armed Forces.

Our Vision

• Maximize overall health and readiness of USMMA Midshipmen and future maritime, transportation industry and Armed Forces Reserve duty leaders
• Deliver quality patient care respectfully through excellent customer service and with a compassionate approach.
• Foster a healthy and safe environment that supports academic training initiatives, sea worthiness and all regimental activity.
• Ensure that the medical staff is optimally trained to support and enhance our mission.

Please click here to learn about our Action Plan and how Health Services supports our Mission and Vision for Midshipmen

The USMMA Department of Health Services (DHS) is responsible for the overall management of the midshipmen medical care, dental care and midshipmen emergency services. DHS works to help midshipmen maintain all medical standards for United States Coast Guard (USCG) Licensing and United States Naval Commissioning requirements. DHS provides care to meet all the standards as set forth in The Code of Federal Regulations, 46 C.F.R. §310.56 which dictates the continuing requirement for USMMA midshipmen to meet the standards set forth in Department of Defense Instruction 6130.03, Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services.

DHS Services

Located in Patten Hall, USMMA, DHS provides onsite medical and dental care for midshipmen at no charge.  The staff is comprised of a health care administrator, board certified physicians, fully trained and credentialed physicians' assistants, a registered nurse, dental hygienist, a clinical psychologist, a counselor and medically trained support personnel. Key services include:

• 24-hour Emergency Medical Services (EMS) coverage for midshipmen, faculty, staff, and visitors, through the midshipmen-run EMS program, with support provided by local emergency services. All Midshipmen who participate in the EMS program are New York State Certified Emergency Medical Technicians.
• Midshipmen healthcare provided:
  • DHS is well prepared to handle:
    • routine medical care
    • general dentistry
    • dental examinations
    • dental hygiene
    • Midshipman counseling and personal development services
    • Access to a full range of referral services
    • Pre-commissioning physicals
    • Sea Year Physicals for medical clearance by USCG for obtaining Merchant Mariner documents and a USCG license.
    • Act as Liaison with The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) for applicants and midshipmen

When medical care needs rise above the scope of services that DHS provides onsite at USMMA, these higher level of care needs are provided by the highly-respected Northwell Health System at their North Shore University Hospital location less than 5 miles from USMMA.  A multitude of various healthcare providers are also located in the surrounding community who specialize in many specialty care needs. It is important to note that Midshipmen are responsible for costs related to healthcare that goes beyond the basic services available onsite through DHS at USMMA. Midshipmen are also responsible on a personal out of pocket basis for healthcare needs associated with injury, illness or diagnosis resulting from a pre-existing condition, a non-disclosed condition, or any medical condition resulting from activity incongruent with Academy regulations & policies. These medical needs requiring care that cannot be provided on site at DHS will require the use of private health insurance. Plebe Candidates, Plebes & Midshipmen are responsible for the cost of individual health insurance plans.

Medical expenses associated with healthcare not provided by USMMA, DHS do occur and can be very costly if there is no healthcare insurance in place. For this reason, all candidates or midshipmen must be covered by a primary health care insurance plan.  Midshipmen may obtain insurance coverage through any of the following means:

1. Through the use of an existing insurance plan (e.g. a family plan, a “self and spouse plan” or self-only plan) that covers the candidate or midshipman; provided that the policy meets the minimum coverage requirements established by USMMA (See our frequently asked questions links at the top, right side of this webpage regarding the minimum requirements).
2. By obtaining the qualifying Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) that meets the Academy’s minimum requirements.

Please visit our frequently asked questions and related documents links on this webpage for additional information.