Heart screening for Mids

justdoit19

justdoit19

Proud parent of an ANG, USNA X2, and a MidSib
5-Year Member
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Apr 9, 2017
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Very interesting šŸ¤”. Article states that since July 20, 1178 incoming plebes have been screened. Thats the whole class? I havenā€™t seen anything about that before. Not that im privy to stuff, but screening the entire ā€˜24 seems pretty significant! Also reads they they are planning to screen the remaining brigade. Interesting.


www.dvidshub.net

Naval Health Clinic Annapolis and Uniformed Services University; Partners to Reduce Sudden Cardiac Death

Even in youth, high-intensity exercise can cause sudden death or cardiac arrest if certain rare congenital conditions are present. The risk of sudden death is significantly higher in military recruits than in NCAA athletes, most likely reflecting the intense pace of the exertion associated with...
www.dvidshub.net www.dvidshub.net
 
And Covid-19 can lead to myocarditis. A study in the Big 10 showed roughly 1/3 of the athletes who had tested positive for Covid-19 had lingering heat inflammation
 
That also probably explains why we are seeing several parents on FB talking about their DD/DSs having Walter Reed cardio tests recently.
Hopefully, most of those 2% are false positives...

This (as a parent of a mid who loves running/exercising)... gives me a reason to let out a huge sigh of relief.
 
I was glad mine had it done, I thought it was very proactive of USNA. He has tested negative 7 times for Covid but was exposed and symptomatic so it made sense. Thankfully results were all good. I hope for the same results for the remainder of the brigage.
 
abcnews.go.com

The heart: Before, during and after COVID-19

COVID-19 can not only exacerbate existing heart problems, but cause new ones.
abcnews.go.com abcnews.go.com

Interesting article on possible link between Covid and future heart problems. Maybe USNA is taking a proactive approach to researching this issue in the interest of making sure there is no link between mild cases and heart issues later on?
 
Thanks for the clarification. My oldest is an athlete in a southern conference and has had an EKG and other tests. As a dad, I am happy that they are at least getting a baseline
 
Many will remember there were two cardiac-related mid deaths last year, David Forney and Duke Carrillo, due to conditions not caught in the routine pre-entry physical exams.
My guess would be between those incidents and the many COVID-related unknowns, itā€™s a ā€œbetter overdo than under doā€ decision.
 
So, so impressed with this decision.

While likely a long-time in the works, last year's two tragic losses coupled with potential and unknown longer-term Covid related cardiac sequelae, clearly punctuate why this is so important; this will genuinely save lives over time.

While it's easy to complain about so many things right now, this to me is a very tangible sign that USNA and Big Navy are looking out for and taking care of us.
 
Capt MJ said:
Many will remember there were two cardiac-related mid deaths last year, David Forney and Duke Carrillo, due to conditions not caught in the routine pre-entry physical exams.
My guess would be between those incidents and the many COVID-related unknowns, itā€™s a ā€œbetter overdo than under doā€ decision.
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Also, the near fatal cardiac event suffered by Grace during 2023 Plebe summer.
 
Question about the scenarios if a problem is found.

1. Before or on I-day, is the candidate denied and sent home?
2. After I-day, but before 2 for 7, is the mid dropped?
3. After 2 for 7, does the mid commission?

I'm sure that there are many mids out there that would probably rather not know than take the chance of getting dropped. I'm sure there are plenty of other mids that would rather know than take the chance on their health.
 
ProudDad2022 said:
Question about the scenarios if a problem is found.

1. Before or on I-day, is the candidate denied and sent home?
2. After I-day, but before 2 for 7, is the mid dropped?
3. After 2 for 7, does the mid commission?

I'm sure that there are many mids out there that would probably rather not know than take the chance of getting dropped. I'm sure there are plenty of other mids that would rather know than take the chance on their health.
Click to expand...
At this juncture, there is no way to state what will absolutely happen.

In the past, if mids were found to have or have developed a med DQ before 2 for 7, they were usually involuntarily separated with no payback required.

After two for seven, there have been cases where if a mid is found to be medically non-commissionable, they are allowed to stay and complete their degree, walk the stage with their class, not get a commission, get medically separated with no payback. Please note this does not always happen, nor does the mid always want to stay.

Before entering the military, I have no doubt @MullenLE and his colleagues across joint military medicine and manpower accessions have this on their agenda as an ongoing issue.

The COVID-19 virus and its many unknowns have tossed a twist into the situation. USNA will not operate in a vacuum. There will be collaboration across all officer and enlisted accession programs, and across the joint service spectrum.

There is one thing unlikely to change. The needs of the service usually influence all decisions. There will be a lot of smart brains running risk analysis scenarios to determine whatā€™s right for the service, what precedents are in place, what changes might be required, and whatā€™s right for an individual case.
 
The Facebook page called ā€œNaval Reserve Training Corps - NROTCā€ has a really good video post from ā€œCommander, Naval Service Training Command, Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, to parents and family members of NROTC midshipmen. Recorded 20 August 2020ā€ that speaks to this. Cannot post a link per forum rules but worth a listen if you look it up. Not sure if commissioning standards are the same for NROTC and USNA. Itā€™s an interesting listen!!
 
I'm curious ..don't they do a EKG as part of the DODMERB exam ? Seems likes it makes more sense to do this up front than after Admission. EKG's are pretty ubiquitous now , and really only take minutes in the hands of a skilled technician.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
I'm curious ..don't they do a EKG as part of the DODMERB exam ? Seems likes it makes more sense to do this up front than after Admission. EKG's are pretty ubiquitous now , and really only take minutes in the hands of a skilled technician.
Click to expand...

No, they do not. Will be interesting to see, however, post COVID, if perhaps there WILL be some sort of heart screening. At least for next year. We hear so much about heart stuff from covid, specifically. I have read something about false negatives with EKGā€™s. That would throw a whole different AMI out there!
 
Having had more EKGs than I can count, false negatives AND positives would be an issue. I'm also not sure if every office is equipped for it. It will be interesting to see if it changes for next year.

True story - my cardiologist (listening with a stethoscope) thought I was in AFIB. By the time they hooked up the machine it didn't indicate I was in AFIB. This happened several times. It took more than a year before the doc and machine were in agreement on AFIB. EKGs are not the be all, end all.
 
kinnem said:
Having had more EKGs than I can count, false negatives AND positives would be an issue.
Click to expand...

Been there , done that ... Had a funny one a couple years ago-- scheduled for Kidney Stone removal, the anethesiologist saw something he didn't like on the EKG, so insisted on a Cardio consult .. Got it done (the original was a bad test), and when I went in for the procedure the anesthesiologist and I recognized each other ...we have some common friends and have been cycling together a few times. He kinda joked that if had recognized my name, he wouldn't have sent me for the cardio consult --he's seen my heart work on the bike ! I told him better safe than sorry!)
 
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