Please see below for medical clearance coordinators contact information, links, and how to's for USFS Emedical/AMP and BLM Acuity Examinee Portal.  

The Medical program for DOI is called Acuity, the same similar system is used for USFS but is referred to as Emedical.

Current Forest Service Direction:  5/1/2024!!!!!!

A waiver process was initiated due to an overload of the system.  The following is our current WCT status:

• Scheduled tests are still planned, continue to attend if you signed-up.  Sessions for this week are full and closed. Continue to sign-up for future sessions.

• If you have been cleared already no change, continue to test.

• If you have already started the emedical process, but are not yet cleared you may take the WCT before being cleared, but must  continue through the clearance process until cleared even following a test. If the exam happens to be when you are unavailable, try and reschedule or cancel at last resort.  They want to continue to test the system to help improve for next year.

• If you were cleared in 2023, and have not started emedical your expiration date will be extended to 12/31/2024.  You still must test. However if your wct level is the same, with no new medical changes you do not have to HSQ or AMP.  Show your red card or clearance from last year at the test.

• New hires must go through emedical and complete an HSQ in emedical prior to testing- This is the same as previous years process, just select HSQ and not AMP.  Send new requests to Hayley, stating HSQ not AMP.

• You need to show proof of clearance at your pack test.  Either have your email proof of clearance, or your red card from 2023 showing your test from last year.

A helpful table that was put together.  Mostly same info.

Regions 6/8/9/10--Arduous

All other regions and anyone NOT going through the Arduous medical process (including Moderate/light quals)

Employees/AD’s who have already started the eMedical process (but have not yet been cleared)

Continue the process. You may take the WCT before you are cleared.

However, you must continue to complete the process, answer all questions, and follow all waivers/mitigations issued to you.

Continue the process. You may take the WCT before you are  cleared.

However, you must continue to complete the process, answer all questions, and follow all waivers/mitigations issued to you.

Federal employees/AD’s (USDA and DOI) who were cleared and took the WCT in 2023 and have NOT started the eMedical process yet in 2024

New medical clearance expiration date is December 31, 2024. You must still take a WCT but can postpone the eMedical clearance process until expiration date. Arduous employees will need to go through the AMP once they begin the clearance process.

*If you’ve had a change in your medical status since your last clearance, please notify the eMedical office before taking the WCT.

New medical clearance expiration date is December 31, 2024. You must take a WCT but can postpone eMedical clearance process until expiration date.

*If you’ve had a change in your medical status since your last clearance, please notify the eMedical office before taking the WCT.

Updated scheduled for the release of the AMP in all regions will be released at a later date.

New hires and employees who were not cleared in 2023

Must go through the clearance process as a condition of hire prior to taking the WCT. Can choose to go through the HSQ instead of the AMP. AMP will not be required until next year.

Must complete the HSQ and go through the clearance process as a condition of hire prior to taking the WCT.

Employees/AD’s already cleared for the WCT

Take the WCT. If you have already gone through the Arduous medical exam, you will complete the self-certification next year.

Take the WCT. Nothing else you need to do at this time.

USFS Medical Coordinators

Lead  Hayley Perry-   hayley.perry@usda.gov 

Secondary  Adam Forga-  adam.forga@usda.gov

BLM Medical Coordinator

Miranda Stuart- mstuart@blm.gov     

Forest Service Employees: Initiated packets close after 21 days of no activity. See Emedical user guides and information below.  Current employees can initiate your Emedical packet through your Connect HR Dashboard. https://usdafs.connecthr.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f

All questions related to medical clearance for FS, please contact Haley Perry.

AD's and SO Employees:  Your Fire Supervisor is Brett Brown.

District Militia Supervisor is the District FMO.

Medical Clearance is required in order to take any of the Work Capacity Tests.   Below are the emedical user guides that provide step by step on how to complete for permanent and seasonal/1039/interim and AD employees for HSQ, Waivers and Arduous Medical Process (AMP).  This is a new Arduous medical process starting December 6th, 2023, please review the User Guides below for completing:

Arduous Medical Process (AMP) Exam VS. Self-Certification (HSQ)

 What is the difference between the AMP and the HSQ?

• The Arduous Medical Process is for those taking the arduous WCT.

• The HSQ is for those employees taking the moderate and light WCTs.

What is the difference between the AME and Self-Certification?

• eMedical runs on a 3-year cycle.

• Year one is the AMP exam (AME): a thorough health screening questionnaire followed by a physical exam with a physician. The results are reviewed by the forest service Reviewing Medical Officer (RMO) before you obtain medical clearance to take the WCT.

• Years 2 and 3 is a self-certification process (requires form located at the bottom of this page) which requires a short questionnaire and a blood pressure check by a local EMT or other qualified individual. The results are reviewed by HSQC’s and based on the answers, may be routed to the RMO or cleared to the WCT.

Completing the Arduous Medical process (particularly the exam portion) takes time. It has taken an average of 45 days from when the employee submits their packet to when exam results are entered into the system. Interim employees can begin the process before they are even in pay status, as long as their SF-52 has been processed and they have been issued their tentative selection notice (TSN).  

Employees should watch their emails for instructions and correspondence.

1039/Temp employees can begin the eMedical process as soon as their 52-hiring action is processed.

The PMS 308 NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flow Chart is located under the home tab above for reference.    Hosted employees please contact your HSQ coordinator after initiating your emedical, as you may not show up on our organization code when searched.  Your level of clearance email will need to be turned into the WCT administrator the day of your scheduled pack test in order to participate.  

USFS:

All employees needing an exam in eMedical will have the option to use Acuity to assist with scheduling and payment of the exam, as well as entering the results into the system. Employees have the right to go to their own medical provider, but the following criteria must be met:

1. Medical providers must have one of the following credentials: MD, DO, NP/APN or PA (NO Chiropractors)

2. Employee is responsible for paying for the exam but is eligible for reimbursement using Request for Reimbursement form: FS-6500-229

3. Employee must ensure their provider agrees to complete the full exam and enter the exam results into the eMedical system. *We will no longer accept emailed or faxed exam results.*

For those employees choosing to use Acuity:

1. If an employee chooses to schedule an exam with Acuity, please have them choose the location they will be physical present in for the next few weeks, that is where Acuity will try and find medical providers.

2. If employees experience problems when they show up for their physical exam (i.e., extended wait times or they are told the paperwork has not arrived yet) --DO NOT LEAVE. Contact Acuity right away at 855-462-1634. If you can’t reach Acuity, contact the eMedical Help Desk.

3. Have employees keep the Peak Flow Meter included their exam kit and a copy of the exam results from their appointment until they are cleared for the WCT.