By MC3 Christopher Lussier
Trident Staff
HM1(AW) A.J. Heinrich, at the permanent remote clinic on Rip Miller Field, assesses plebes before they check in for morning sick call. USNA photo by MC3 Christopher Lussier.
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On Induction Day, medical personnel assigned to Naval Health Clinic Annapolis must administer hundreds of immunizations, perform blood work and conduct eye exams, physicals and various screenings for the 1,200 new Midshipmen reporting for Plebe Summer.
Induction Day is only the beginning. For the rest of Plebe Summer, the Clinic’s corpsmen and doctors must keep up with the constant influx of sick or injured plebes as their bodies adapt to the demands of military life. To accommodate the increased number of new patients, the Clinic increases the size of its staff with Prospective Student Inputs (PSI), Sailors who recently graduated from Hospital Corpsman ‘A’ School and are awaiting orders to ‘C’ School.
''We see an average of 35-50 patients every morning,'' said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (AW) A.J. Heinrich, Brigade Medical Unit. ''Most have some sort of orthopedic injury or viral illness.''
The 12 PSIs currently assigned to Naval Health Clinic Annapolis provide the medical staff with much needed assistance, working everywhere from records and labs to the remote clinics around the Yard.
''The PSIs are especially vital now,'' said Heinrich. ''We wouldn’t be able to get half as much done without them.''
The PSIs who show the highest levels of competency and initiative during their time at the Academy are assigned to the remote clinics. These clinics provide on-site treatment for plebes participating in physical events such as morning physical education and the Tarzan assault course. The overall experience is just as beneficial to the new corpsmen as it is for Clinic staff.
''The PSIs are very fortunate to be assigned here,'' said Heinrich. ''They get a broad, practical clinical experience working here that can’t be taught in school.''
Hospital man Andrew Quinn is awaiting orders to Field Medical Service School, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Quinn, 20, reported to the Academy June 8 and quickly set himself apart from his peers.
''I have learned so much in such a short time here working with the Midshipmen,'' said Quinn. ''I really think that my experiences here dealing with heat exhaustion and muscle injuries will help me in the future.''
Quinn and the rest of the PSIs will leave the Academy at the end of Plebe Summer, and report to various ‘C’ schools throughout the Navy.
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