Textbook of Maritime Medicine

Although general medicine is the basis, it is of the utmost importance to have access to other specialties. The selection of the service, department or individual specialist to refer to should be done on the basis of accessibility of their service for seafarers. It is of the utmost importance that the responsible and treating doctor has a heart for seafarers. Seafarers deserve to be treated better than other patients, prejudices have to be banned and fought against. The specialist must provide special care for seafarers, they should get immediate access. A rigid appointment system is therefore not good. In reality many specialists who provide this extra service have a link with seafaring or the maritime world. Some of the specialties that are most important to have at hand are: radiology (ultrasound), orthopedics (traumatology), ophthalmology, dermatology and cardiology. Dental care is critical for seafarers and although dentists often have their own port service it is most important for the port physician to be familiar with that system and to know how the continuity of care is organized for dental care.