TO: UH Diving Medical Examinees
FROM: David Pence, UH Diving Safety Officer (DFP)
RE: Scheduling Medical Examinations
UH Diving Safety Regulations require that an Initial UH Diving Medical Exam be conducted and clearance received from the examining physician no more than 12 months prior to the start of initial in-water activities. A periodic re-exam and clearance is required thereafter, at intervals as described in the UH Diving Safety Manual. The exam must include all tests stipulated in the Manual and on the exam form. (also listed in Manual Appendix 2) and the final clearance signature must be from a licensed physician (M.D., or D.O.). It is recommended that the MD have training or knowledge of diving and hyperbaric medicine. A list of Hawaii MD’s with this knowledge identified by UHDSP is in the UH Diving Manual, Appendix 13. For divers visiting from outside Hawaii, you may be referred to knowledgeable MD’s by calling the Divers Alert Network Medical Information Line: (919) 684-2948, ext. 222.
Divers may have their exam conducted by their personal physician if they prefer, so long as all UH Diving Medical Exam requirements are met, and all required tests are conducted and documentation provided. Final approval must be by a licensed physician (M.D. or D.O.). If contraindications to diving exist and the examining physician does not provide evidence of expertise in diving medicine, the UH Diving Control Board may require a secondary review and approval from a physician with such expertise.
Alternatively, UHDSP has made arrangements with the Straub Occupational Medicine Clinic to conduct exams for UH Divers at a corporate rate, by a physician with expertise in diving medicine. Current rates as of January, 2021 are as follows:
- Initial Exam (Upon entry into the program. Diving Physical Exam; Audiogram Screening; Urinalysis; Pulmonary Function Test (Spirometry); Chest Xray (2 views); Sickle Cell Screening; CBC w/diff): $244.13
- Periodic Re-Exam (As required by age category. Diving Physical Exam; Audiogram Screening; Urinalysis; Pulmonary Function Test (Spirometry); CBC w/diff ): $175.88
- Additional Tests (Required for divers over Age 40, and for others whenever deemed necessary by the examining physician):
- EKG 12-Lead: $61.95
- Treadmill Stress Test: $227.85
- Chest Xray, 2 views: $52.50
- Chem Profile 12: $30.45
How to schedule an exam at Straub Occupational Medicine Clinic:
- Obtain a set of UH Medical Forms: If you cannot download the forms, email UHDSP at uhdsp@hawaii.edu for a set. DO NOT USE FORMS FROM OTHER SOURCES, SUCH AS COPIED FROM STORED FILES OR FROM OLD HARD VERSIONS OF THE UH DIVING SAFETY MANUAL, as these forms may be out of date with current policies and procedures.
- Complete the Medical History Section of the UH Medical Forms before going to the exam, and take all forms with you to the exam. After the exam, Straub will return the completed forms to the Diving Safety Program to be included in your permanent file. This takes about 5-8 working days after the exam.
- Determine Payment Method: If a UH department is being billed, obtain a Requisition or Purchase Order number from your fiscal officer. If you are going to pay personally, you should make sure to tell the receptionist this at the time you schedule your exam. You will be asked to pay or present a PO when you arrive for the exam. Straub will accept personal checks or Credit Cards.
- Call the Straub Occupational Medicine Clinic Appointments Desk at (808) 529-4949 to schedule your exam. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL STRAUB MEDICAL CLINIC.
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- To schedule your exam, you will need the following information: Name, Birthdate, SSN, and the desired appointment time/date, and the UH department with which you are affiliated.
- Morning exams are best since you must fast for 12 hours prior to the appointment. It is also good to have a backup date/time in case they are full at your first choice).
- You will also be asked whether you need an Initial or Periodic Exam. Initial Exams are required the first time, and for the first exam after age 40. Periodic Exams are required every 5 years under age 40 for most divers, and every 3 years for divers between ages 40-59 and for those divers conducting dives requiring staged decompression. Then every 2 years for ages 60 and above.
5. Arrive 15-30 minutes early. Straub Occupational Medicine Clinic is located at 1100 Ward Avenue, Suite 615, Honolulu, HI 96813. Parking is available in the First Insurance Center parking garage and the rates are as follows: 0-15 minutes, parking is free; each 1/2 hour or fraction thereof is $3; maximum time of 24 hours is $36; and a lost ticket is $36. The exam takes 2-3 hours.