Instructions for completing the Health Questionnaire (HQ)

Health is an important component of a successful overseas experience. A detailed medical review of the Comprehensive Health Questionnaire serves to minimize health risks while overseas. Please complete each item. You can minimize a delay in your evaluation by providing full answers and following these guidelines.

The completion of the HQ needs to be done as early in the process as possible. It takes 6-10 weeks to be reviewed by the medical personnel. Additional information may need to be obtained, therefore, your timely response to questions and follow up will determine how quickly you will receive medical clearance.

1.Who needs to complete the Health Questionnaire (HQ)?

2. Entries on the HQ need to be thorough and complete. For example, don’t simply write the word “asthma” without explanation; you should include date of onset, frequency and severity of symptoms, treatment, need for visits to the Emergency Room, etc. Statements such as “ski injury” without explanation will require correspondence. Instead write, “Sprained right knee skiing, 1975, used crutches for a week, no problems or related doctor visits since.” Please provide dates.

3. For all potentially serious medical problems (moderate to severe asthma, back problems, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, kidney disease, or heart disease, etc.) request that records or a professional’s explanatory letter be sent to:

4. For surgeries other than appendectomy, gall bladder removal, hysterectomy, hernia repair, or C-section within the past five years, please have the surgeon send a statement of finding and subsequent follow up. Instead, the surgeon may fax a copy of the operative report, discharge summary and subsequent office notes.

5. If you have seen a psychiatrist or professional counselor within the past five years please ask that individual to send a letter concerning issues dealt with, current status, and ability to function in an extremely high stress environment overseas.

6. When completing the HQ please indicate “Report requested from physician or counselor” by each condition for which a report has been requested.

7. Expectations are for all field personnel to have a lifestyle of wellness. Thus weight standards are part of our protocol and monitoring of weight will be an ongoing process and can affect medical clearance. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to determine those who are consdiered to be at health risk because of weight. A BMI calculator can be found here. Please note that the normal BMI is 18-25. Weight Standards are based on the following age specific BMI maximum allowance:

Thank you. Be assured that any medical information sent will be handled confidentially.