LESSON 5
SICK CALL PROCEDURES
5-1.
SICK CALL
Sick call is an assembly of sick and injured military active duty personnel held
each day at a designated time and place (usually at the troop medical clinic or battalion
aid station) for the purpose of providing routine medical examination and treatment.
After the examination, soldiers who are medically unfit for duty are admitted to a
hospital, confined to quarters, or authorized to occupy a bed in a dispensary or Army
health clinic. Other patients receive necessary treatment and are then returned to full
duty or to duty with specific limitations.
a. Military personnel who do not report for medical treatment at sick call may be
seen on an appointment basis.
b. In an emergency, a patient may be seen any time the facility is open.
Sometimes a specific area or facility other than the area or facility used for sick call is
designated for treating emergency patients.
5-2.
THE INDIVIDUAL SICK SLIP
Each person who comes to sick call should have an Individual Sick Slip (DD
FORM 689) (figure 5-1). DD FORM 689 is usually prepared by the unit orderly room.
After the person has been examined, the physician or other authorized person indicates
the disposition of the patient on the Individual Sick Slip, which is then returned to the
unit commander. In certain cases, such as an emergency in which the individual
reports directly to the clinic for treatment, the Individual Sick Slip can be initiated by
clinic personnel.
5-3.
HOLDING SICK CALL
The following is an example of typical sick call procedures.
a. Upon arriving at the clinic, the soldier gives the clerk his Individual Sick Slip.
b. The clerk removes the soldier's Health Record (HREC) from the file and
enters the date and the facility identification (if needed) on the current Chronological
Record of Medical Care. He then gives the HREC and the Individual Sick Slip to you
(the medical specialist).
c. If the Algorithm-Directed Troop Medical Care (ADTMC) system is utilized,
interview the patient and follow the instructions in the manual. (The ADTMC process is
discussed in paragraphs 5-5 through 5-7.) If the ADTMC system is not used, you will
normally proceed as follows.
MD0920
5-2