A comparison of flight and non-flight sick call visits to a U.S. Army aviation medicine clinic

In a U.S. Army aviation medicine program, flight surgeons provide primary clinical care for the units they support. Routine outpatient care (sick call) is performed daily on a walk-in basis. This study describes the diagnoses associated with flight and non-flight personnel reporting to sick call in an Army aviation medicine clinic. Data were collected over a 1-year period at an Aviation Troop Medical Clinic (TMC) supporting an aviation brigade consisting of 530 aircrew and 1,220 support personnel. A total of 5,793 sick call visits were made, 73% of which were initial visits, the remainder being second or subsequent visits. Aircrew evaluations accounted for 29% of the total. Major reasons for visits were illness (56%), injury (34%), and supplemental care (10%). However, substantial differences were noted between flight and non-flight patients. Overall, non-aircrew visits accounted for the bulk of the flight surgeons' clinical workload during sick call.