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DMAC has established an approval system for courses in diving medicine.
Background
Legal regulations and industrial standards concerning training of doctors involved in examination and treatment of working divers and the medical consultants to diving contractors vary throughout the world. Many professional divers work in different nations as a part of their employment and, even though the guidance on medical standards for fitness to dive is reasonably well established internationally, the training of doctors to conduct those examinations and to provide competent support for diving emergencies is patchy.
Accreditation or approval of courses in diving medicine would probably best be achieved if multi-national agencies (such as bodies within WHO, ILO or EU) or well-reputed academic institutions with international connections would accept such a responsibility. However, in spite of agreement for many years on the need for approval, little or nothing has happened.
In 2004 the European Diving Technology Committee (EDTC) produced its guidance on the "Medical Assessment of Working Divers", available from IMCA (the International Marine Contractors Association).
Previously, a joint committee of the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM) and EDTC developed "Training Standards for Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine". At present, this remains the best recognised international standard for such training. However, no organisation has accepted responsibility for administering an approval procedure for these basic courses. Until another recognised body takes on this responsibility, DMAC has accepted the obligation to assess selected courses in diving medicine together with a representative of the EDTC Medical Subcommittee; this alliance is to be referred to as 'DMAC/EDTCmed'.
Two levelsof approval are available:
- Level I - Medical assessment of divers (Medical Examiner of Divers)
- Level IIa - Medical management of diving accidents and illnesses (Competence in Diving Medicine)
It is emphasised that DMAC/EDTCmed will approve only the courses and not the competence of those who have attended them.
How to Gain DMAC Approval
Those interested in gaining DMAC recognition for their course should download the recognition document (see below). This sets out all of the requirements and procedures. A Word version for electronic completion is available to course administrators on request. Any further questions should be addressed to the Secretary.
Approval of Diving Medicine Courses
Checklist only (for those applying for recognition)
Approved Courses
The following courses are currently approved by DMAC/EDTCmed:
| Course Organiser |
Contact Details |
Approval Level |
Approval Expiry |
DDRC Professional Services Ltd United Kingdom |
The Hyperbaric Medical Centre
Research Way
Tamar Science Park
Derriford
Plymouth
PL6 8BU
United Kingdom
|
Tel: +44 (0) 1752 209 999
Fax: +44 (0) 1752 209 115
E-mail: Pete.Atkey@ddrc.org
|
I and IIa |
3 Jan 2011 |
Institute of Naval Medicine United Kingdom |
Crescent Road
Alverstoke
Hampshire
PO12 2DL
United Kingdom
|
Tel: +44 (0) 23 9276 8091
Fax: +44 (0) 23 9252 7046
E-mail: ahernl@inm.mod.uk
|
Level I |
30 Sep 2010 |
Norwegian Armed Forces Norway |
Joint Medical Submarine and Diving Medicine Office
Boks 5
Haakonsvern K-21
N-5886 Bergen
Norway |
Tel: +47 55 50 21 60
Fax: +47 55 50 37 92
E-mail: jrisberg@mil.no
|
Level I |
1 Sep 2009 |
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Italy |
Piazza dei Martiri delle Libertà N° 33
56127 Pisa
Italy |
Tel: +39 050 883111
Fax: +39 050 883225
Web: www.sssup.it
|
I and IIa |
21 May 2010 |
Stellenbosch University South Africa |
Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
Department of Community Health
Faculty of Health Sciences
Stellenbosch University
PO Box 19063
7505 Tygerberg
South Africa
|
Tel: +27 21 938 9272
Fax: +27 21 938 9166
E-mail: wajm@sun.ac.za
Web: www.divingmedicine.co.za
|
I and IIa |
1 Sep 2008 |
Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society United States of America |
PO Box 1020
Dunkirk, MD 20754
USA |
Tel: +1 410 257 6606
Fax: +1 410 257 6617
E-mail: donchandler@uhms.org
Web: www.uhms.org
|
Level I |
1 March 2010 |
Page added January 2006
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