Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Corpsman HA Cody Davis inserts a needleless syringe in preparation for the immunization of U.S. Navy recruits during their initial in-processing at USS Red Rover.

In the early hours of a frigid January morning in northern Illinois, divisions of U.S. Navy recruits line up outside of Bldg. 1523 -- also known as USS Red Rover -- for their initial medical and dental procedures.

Regardless of the temperature, this scene repeats itself throughout the year, as new recruits are processed into the U.S. Navy.  In-processing “tasks” are divided into 5 processing days called “P Days.” During these dates, recruits receive a substantial number of vital medical and dental tasks, ensuring they are physically ready for their role in the U.S. Navy.

“This stop is typically a recruit’s first exposure to Navy medicine and dentistry,” said Dr. Ronald Rudlaff, Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center’s USS Red Rover Assistant Department Head of Dentistry. “While their dental readiness is absolutely our top priority, it’s also important that we make a positive impression on them.”

Rudlaff explained that in 9 to 10 combined minutes, a recruit receives a dental exam, three x-rays and a forensics exam. This would typically average an hour outside of the training environment. Moving at that pace, the annual dentistry numbers can be staggering: More than 164,000 patient encounters, more than 46,700 tooth extractions and just under 81,000 routine dental restorations. In total, these procedures would equate to more than $72 million in community dental services.

“It’s orderly chaos in the most organized fashion,” said Rudlaff. “The men and women who perform this delicate ‘ballet’ between dental and medical tasks are impressive, as we all push toward the common goal of readiness.”

As one of four Branch Medical Clinics that are part of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, USS Red Rover processes more than 40,000 enlisted recruits annually.  During the first two processing days, recruits are registered into the Composite Health Care System and their medical records are created; they are also given a Tubercullin Skin Test, a blood draw, and their DNA cards are collected.

It’s during P-3 and P-4 that recruits receive the majority of their medical and dental tasks, explained Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Andrew Archila, Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center’s Department Head for USS Red Rover. These include male/female wellness counseling (female wellness exam and pregnancy counseling), an average of 5 immunizations, dental x-ray and exams, an optometry exam (same-day glasses) and a physician exam (for recruits with allergies, high body-mass index, physical activity issues and current complaints).

“The only reason we’re able to do what we do is because of the phenomenal professionals we have at USS Red Rover,” said Archila. “What’s impressive is that we focus so much on patient safety, but are able to process enormous number of recruits in a short period of time.”

Like the dental side, the annual averages for USS Red Rover’s medical tasks are impressive: They produce nearly 18,500 glasses, administer nearly 200,000 immunizations, provide approximately 10,000 gynecological exams, administer nearly 40,000 hearing exams, and collect and exam nearly 200,000 tubes of blood.

“Recruit Training Command is under enormous time constraints while recruits are in a training environment,” said Archila. “This is why it’s so important that our medical and dental portions are completed thoroughly and quickly, and that we get the recruits back to their training.”

Most recruits will graduate and honorably serve on Naval stations and ships around the world. While few will ever forget their in-processing experience at USS Red Rover, most will never truly appreciate the scale and impressive process for their medical and dental readiness.

By Jonathan Friedman