Specific Medical Concerns
Here are restrictions and guidelines for common conditions:
Diabetes: The accepted value for diabetes (A1C) is 9.0 or below.
Prostate: A PSA value of 5.0 or greater may require additional medical review before an assignment can be made.
Blood Pressure: Maximum blood pressure reading of 140 over 90 is acceptable if controlled with medication.
For conditions not covered here, please have your stake president contact the Senior Missionary Medical Coordinator at 1-801-240-0322 to discuss your specific medical needs.
Optional Tests
Depending on your insurance and the recommendations of your physician, you may consider having the following tests.
Colonoscopy: Senior missionaries are not required to receive a colonoscopy screening before missionary service. However, you should receive this screening if your doctor recommends it.
Mammogram: Though recommended for sisters, mammograms are not mandatory.
Cardiac Stress Test: You are not required to have a cardiac stress test. However, it is recommended if you have three or more of the following risk factors:
- 50 years of age or older
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes, obesity, or metabolic syndrome
- Family history of heart disease
- History of chest pain
TB Test
You are required to be tested for tuberculosis exposure.
Immunizations
You are strongly encouraged to obtain immunizations to protect yourself and others from becoming infected by or becoming a carrier of disease. If you decline immunizations, you will be assigned to an assignment in your home country.
The following immunizations are normally required:
- Hepatitis A & B—Because it takes six months to complete this immunization series, you should begin this series as soon as you decide to serve a mission.
- Tetanus
- MMR—This immunization is required if you were born after 1956.
Other immunizations may be required depending on the country where you are called to serve. These may include typhoid, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis. Some immunizations may be costly.
Planned Procedures
All major surgical procedures should be completed before your stake president submits your missionary recommendation form. For recent major surgical procedures, ask your physician to provide you a letter of clarification stating the medical concern, the treatment, and if there are any restrictions. This letter helps the missionary medical committee make recommendations to the Brethren regarding your health care needs. For questions about whether this applies to you, please have your stake president contact the Missionary Department at 801-240-0322.
Additional Information to Submit
Please give to your stake president any record, letter, or other document that explains a particular medical condition or treatment that is not listed in the Personal Health History section or Physician's Evaluation section of your missionary recommendation forms. He will scan these documents and attach them to your Missionary Online Recommend before submitting them to Church headquarters. Typical examples include:
- Physician's clarification after surgery or other major medical procedure
- Explanation of abnormal findings that are being monitored/treated
- Rare or unusual diagnoses or conditions needing specialized treatment
Prescription Medications
If you need to take prescription medication on your mission, work with your doctor and your insurance provider to bring a 90-day supply to get you started. Please contact Missionary Medical at 801-578-5650 to arrange for your care in the field.
If you would like to receive medication by mail, please note that they can be mailed only by a certified pharmacy. Family and friends should not mail prescription medications.
Mental Health
Missionary service can be stressful and put you in situations you may not have experienced before. Please disclose any mental health concerns you may have, both diagnosed and undiagnosed. Please list on your recommendation forms any medications you are taking for mental health.
Specific Questions
For conditions or concerns not covered here, please have your stake president contact the Senior Missionary Medical Coordinator at 1-801-240-0322 to discuss your specific medical needs.
If you have initial questions about your health and whether you can serve, we would be happy to talk!
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