Evaluation of Peace Corps/Medical Clearance System

We recommend that the OCIO implement improvements to the Medical Screening Process including the following: • Posting the Medical Kit online, • Instituting a new system in which applicant paper medical records will be scanned by the Medical Records Unit prior to review by screening nurses, • Fixing the identified applicant status problems with the My Toolkit and institute improvements to the My Toolkit code including: • Linking the HSR answers to requirements on the applicant’s personalized Medical Screening Checklist, • Expanding and improving upon accuracy of online status checks and incorporating automated e-mail messaging to applicants explaining why the applicant’s status was updated or changed, • Determining the parameters by which the Screening Unit can utilize email as an effective means of communication with the applicant as is currently being used by the State Department’s Medical Screening Unit, and • Posting the following documents online: o The Comprehensive Medical and Dental Booklet o Detailed description of the Medical Screening process o The list and explanation of all medical disposition status codes.

We recommend that the agency establish a Volunteer Delivery System committee to meet on a monthly basis to discuss VDS system operations, performance measurement, impact of interoffice VDS decisions, and communication strategies for implementing VDS changes that ensure that all VDS offices are informed of changes to the system that effect multiple offices and changes are communicated consistently to regional recruitment offices and applicants.

We recommend that the agency prioritize long-standing recommendations for technological improvements to Pre-Service operations and provide OMS with the resources to carry out these improvements to the Medical Clearance System.

We recommend that the Cross-Unit Board in collaboration with the Quality Improvement Unit review the recommendations in the above noted reports.