Guidelines for Venom or Immunotherapy

dschrute

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5-Year Member
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As listed in the USUHS SOM Excerpt for Respiratory System and Allergies, it quotes "Allergy immunotherapy within a year of examination is disqualifying and (including treatment for hymenoptera sensitivity, unless established at monthly maintenance levels) will not be considered for waiver consideration."

On that note, this statement seems to imply that allergy immunotherapy for particle allergies (dust, pollen, etc.) will not qualify for waiver if it's within a year, but that hymenoptera immunotherapy (no matter what time period) is acceptable and CAN qualify for waiver consideration. Is this correct, or am I misreading it?
 
That is a question best submitted to USHUS. There is no one on the Forum that could intelligently answer what their waiver criteria is and how it is applied. :thumb: I will ask on my own, off line and get back to you:smile:
 
I also have a concern regarding this, I got my letter today telling me I did not meet DoD medical standards because of an allergic reaction to a wasp sting that happened 7 years ago. Since then, I have been stung one and had no reaction. I don't quite understand this, will I be able to get a waiver, and why is a waiver needed for this?
 
Josh5sox - My staff corresponded with you today. The bottom line in your case is that you did not meet the DoD Medical accession standard. As explained to you by our staff, the waiver authority will have to make a "risk assessment" regarding your condition. That "risk assessment" will result in his waiver decision. People can and have and will continue to have life threatening reactions to insect stings. Hence, the reason behind such stringent reviews.

dschrute - regarding your question..., I'm not a Doc. I didn't even pay that much attention to your issue, becasue it exceeded my medical vocabulary AND I have not seen the reference that you cited. Therefore, I wanted to get you the most accurate information possible. I fired the question off the USHUS. At the end of the day, they had not consolidated all the inputs. But, they did confirm that they were removing that from their next version of the catalog. They will consider waiver cases, like all waiver authorities do, on a case-by-case basis, based strictly on the diagnosis, prognosis, and effects of an illness, injury, disease, condition, etc., on each individual, as opposed to the general label for the condition.

I am experienced at reading standards. Now that I have scrutinized their quote, as provided by you, they clearly did not wish to state that particular exception. Hence, that's why they are removing it from their next version.

BOTTOM LINE: They will review each case of hymenoptera sensitivity and make a risk assessment as to the ability to train, commission, be worldwide deployable, and mission accomplishment.

Hopefully, this helps to clarify their position on this condition.:thumb:
 
MullenLE, thank you for your response and the help from everyone else at DODMERB. I appreciate the speed of the responses you have given me so that I can try to straighten everything out as soon as possible.
 
Thx for the opportunity to serve:thumb:
 
As to the original poster: the USUHS school of medicine catalog is usually full of all sorts of errors and unfortunately this one caused some serious confusion for you. Luckily we have a subject matter expert around who was able to get to the right people and get it straightened out; however, if you have any other questions about material you find in the catalog I would highly recommend calling either the Student Affairs Office or the Registrar's office and they will be able to give you the most up to date information.

I'm not sure why my alma mater can't really get its act together in regards to the catalog, but take what you read with a grain of salt.
 
I just wanted to make sure I include everything I need, what exactlly do I need to address in the request for the waiver? And do you know how common it is to get a waiver for insect venom allergies? Thanks again
 
Josh5sox - You just have to say "Request I be considered for a medical waiver." Give your full name and Last 4 of your SSN. The Command Surgeon will either grant, deny, or request additional test(s), eval(s), and/or info if he feels he needs it to render his decision. He already has everything that was provided to DoDMERB.

As I stated in other responses this evening, the label of "insect venon waivers" is meaningless. Your case will be decided on the specifics as it pertains to you.:thumb:
 
Oh okay, I remember reading that in one of the emails, oops :redface: but I will send out my request tomorrow. Thanks for all of your help over the past two weeks
 
I will have your answer on Saturday. Thx for your patience. USUHS took a little time to get back to me.:thumb:
 
USUHS indicated they will change their catalog to reflect (suggested; not finalized) "Allergy immunotherapy within 1 year of examination is disqaulifying and will be disqualifying." There is also consnsus that all disqualifications will be considerd on a case by case basis for waiver consideration.:thumb:
 
As listed in the USUHS SOM Excerpt for Respiratory System and Allergies, it quotes "Allergy immunotherapy within a year of examination is disqualifying and (including treatment for hymenoptera sensitivity, unless established at monthly maintenance levels) will not be considered for waiver consideration."

On that note, this statement seems to imply that allergy immunotherapy for particle allergies (dust, pollen, etc.) will not qualify for waiver if it's within a year, but that hymenoptera immunotherapy (no matter what time period) is acceptable and CAN qualify for waiver consideration. Is this correct, or am I misreading it?


My daughter gets one allergy shot a month (maintenance) and she was disqualified ??? now I am confused..... although we are hoping for a waiver....
 
J Collins -

Please send Mr Mullen an email to his address in the above post. He can explain to you the rationale for the disqualification, what you should do to expedite a medical waiver and even if a medical waiver is possible.

He will get back to you quickly!
 
My daughter gets one allergy shot a month (maintenance) and she was disqualified ??? now I am confused..... although we are hoping for a waiver....

Please be aware that the quote you are quoting from is the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences catalog. Those standards are for the military's medical school which can be completely different from the standards used for the undergraduate service academies.

I understand your frustration, but one of your best sources of information is Mr. Mullen.
 
Asa confusing as this posting has gotten, as best I can tell, the one with a question on the table now is J Collins. U may email me your daughters full name and Last 4 of her SSN (Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil) and I can answer you better but there's three issues issues here:

1. As KP2001 said below and I said within this posting 4 weeks ago, USUHS has admitted that thier catalog was in error and they will address each case on a case by case basis.
2. If someone is on this DoDMERB portion of the Forums and is confused, then I'm confused if they don't send an email to my work email address. Like I said, I only have access to this webiste at night and on the weekends.
3. If your daughter gets an allergy shot once a month, she is definitely determined by DoDMERB to NOT meet medcial accession standards---History of immunotherapy within the last 12 months is disqualifying. You are correct, she can pursue a medcial waiver from USUHS and they will either grant or deny that request OR before rendering their decision, they can request additional test(s), eval(s), and/or information.

Standing by for an email:thumb:
 
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