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1.
What kind of confidentiality do I have at MDC? 2. Will my MDC appointments follow me throughout my naval or marine corps career? 3. Does any information go into my permanent medical record? 4. What effect will visiting MDC have on my career both here and in the fleet or corps? 5. How do I make an appointment at MDC? |
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1. What kind of confidentiality do I have at MDC? Counseling works best when the midshipman feels comfortable and safe, and does not have to worry that what is said to the counselor will be shared with anyone else without permission. However, even in the civilian sector, there are limits to confidentiality because the welfare and safety of the client and others may require that confidentiality be breached in certain circumstances. Professional counseling relationships with psychologists at the Naval Academy are bound by the same limitations existing in the civilian sector, as well as additional limitations based upon the unique nature of military service. This is a summary of the limitations to confidentiality that are discussed more thoroughly at an initial appointment. |
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2. Will my MDC appointments follow me throughout my naval or
marine corps career? No. In short, while we are an integrated part of the Navy, we are also a self-contained unit serving the midshipmen of the Naval Academy. If you come to MDC to seek assistance for a problem you are having that does not affect your suitability for commissioning (as is almost always the case), the information never leaves the Academy. There is no official record of your visits to MDC that follows you out into the Navy or the Corps. See also FAQ #3. |
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3. Does any information go into my permanent medical record? A qualified no. Our records are "owned" by the Commandant of Midshipmen, in the same way that your official Navy medical records are "owned" by the CO of the hospital in which they are located. The record of you visits to MDC is kept under lock and key in MDC and never leaves the center. By state law we have to keep them for a number of years after you graduate. They are then destroyed by incineration. There is only one exception to this answer. If, in providing you the best possible care, we need to refer you to the medical command, we need to provide them with some information about you so they can best evaluate how to treat you. We still don't send our records, but will prepare a report for them based on our assessment. |
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4.
What effect will going to MDC have on my career here, and in the fleet? Not only will it not hinder your career, our findings suggest that midshipmen who have sought services at the MDC have typically enhanced their careers because they were able to resolve whatever difficulties they were having--performance or academic problems, interpersonal and family problems, career indecision, emotional turmoil, etc.--and go on to achieve their goals (i.e., graduate, be commissioned, and serve good careers in the military). If they had not sought help, these problems could have held them back and caused more problems in the future. And since the MDC is not part of the medical system, contacts are not recorded in the permanent medical record, and any internal documentation is shredded after commissioning into the military. |
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5. How do I make an appointment at MDC? The easiest way to make an appointment with a psychologist is to go to the On-Line Appointment Forms follow the instructions and fill out the "Intake Form." After you submit that form electronically, it will be reviewed by a clinical psychologist and you will be contacted to schedule an appointment. You may also telephone MDC at 3-4897 or come into the center to ask any questions you may have prior to filling out the questionnaire. If you feel more comfortable filling out the intake form in the Center, we have a computer terminal dedicated to the On-line Forms. You can also e-mail if you have any questions. Remember to say whether you want to see a psychologist or the sports nutritionist. |
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