New York City Fire Department BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program
World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program
What’s new?
FDNY Bureau of Health Services (BHS) and your Unions invite you to participate in the enhanced BHS World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program (WTC MMTP), funded by two companion grants:
- National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Grant (NIOSH) of the federal government
- September 11 Recovery Grant of the American Red Cross Liberty Disaster Relief Fund
Why were these grants awarded to BHS?
The award of these grants is a direct result of the continuing deep concern that Drs. Kelly, Prezant, your BHS healthcare professionals and the entire FDNY community have for the health impact of the WTC exposure on our FDNY members, active and retired. The BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program is an extension of the unprecedented 10,600 BHS WTC Medical Screenings conducted over a four (4) month period, commencing within weeks after 9/11. Since then FDNY BHS with your support, has done additional WTC Medical Screenings for a total of 13,370. FDNY BHS is the designated WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Center for FDNY first responders, with a program tailored specifically to meet your needs.
Does my union endorse this program?
Yes! The BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program is co-designed with the UFA, the UFOA, and EMS Locals 2507 and 3621.
Who is eligible?
ALL FDNY MEMBERS
- All our active FDNY members, Fire and EMS, will receive the enhanced BHS WTC Medical Monitoring as part of their regularly scheduled BHS Annual Medical visits.
- All our FDNY retired members who participated at least one day in the WTC rescue recovery effort at any of the sites: Ground Zero, Staten Island land fill, or the NYC Chief Medical Examiner’s office between 9/11/01 and July 2002, are included in the BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, even those who did not receive our original BHS WTC Medical Screening.
- The Bureau of Health Services (BHS) mailed an invitational letter and a Retiree Contact Form to nearly 6,000 retirees schedule an appointment with the WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program. Over 1500 retired members have responded. BHS has begun scheduling appointments which will continue throughout the fall. Please be patient as we accommodate FDNY retired members.
Retirees who have not received this invitational letter can click here to access the WTC MMTP Retiree Letter and WTC MMTP Retiree Contact Form. The contact form asks for your most recent contact information and your date/time preference for an appointment. It can be forwarded either through the mail or via email.
What will the BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program include?
The BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program provides a comprehensive medical, at no cost to you, allowing BHS healthcare staff to evaluate your health, to diagnose, provide early detection and individualized treatment plans. The BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program funded in large part by NIOSH includes:
- Electrocardiogram
- Chest imaging
- Screenings for cholesterol, prostate cancer, liver, kidney, and blood diseases
- Testing for pulmonary function and hearing
- WTC-specific medical and mental health computer surveys
- Mental health interview with a mental health professional
- Follow-up by our dedicated BHS Case Management Nurses, Physicians, and our other healthcare professionals to assist you with the progress of your personal treatment plan based on the health issues identified by your BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Team.
How does The American Red Cross Recovery grant fit in?
The grant provides specific follow-up testing, treatment, and services, if medically needed, based on your BHS WTC Medical Monitoring results, at no cost to you. Previously for many of our FDNY first responders (especially our retired members and EMS members), these tests, treatments, and services for WTC-related conditions were cost prohibitive out-of-pocket expenses due to inadequate, no insurance coverage or worker compensation coverage.
What does The American Red Cross Recovery grant provide?
After your BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program evaluation, if your health status requires it, you will be referred for free follow-up services or other tests deemed relevant to your health status and WTC exposures:
- Respiratory evaluation and treatment with Chest CT scan and/or Sinus CT scan and/or Thyroid scan, as needed
- Follow-up psychological and social work services
- Chronic WTC-related pain treatment, such as massage therapy and acupuncture
- Sleep Study Test
- Cardiac Stress Testing
- Complete PFT/Methacholine Challenge Testing
- GI Endoscopies
- Health and wellness programs, such as:
Tobacco Cessation Treatment Program, which includes:
1. Personalized quit guidance
2. Diet and exercise tips
3. Free nicotine replacement medication(s)
As an FDNY member, incumbent and retiree– how many free WTC Monitoring Medicals am I eligible for?
FDNY members are eligible for three (3) free comprehensive WTC Monitoring Medicals over the next five (5) year program.
What happens after I have completed the BHS WTC Monitoring Medical?
The BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program provides:
- Your individual medical monitoring data only to you, along with a comparison to your pre- and post BHS WTC medical results.
- Needed medical follow-up that offers you health surveillance in compliance with recent NYS pension disability retirement legislation recognizing that delayed medical outcomes for WTC rescue and recovery worker exposures may occur.
- Health risk trend group data (without names or identifiers) that will be shared with Fire and EMS Unions, co-partners in the BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, and other experts so that lessons learned can help other first responders.
Will anyone else receive my individual BHS WTC Medical Monitoring results?
No! Your individual medical results will be delivered only to you, along with comparisons to your pre- & post WTC medical data. Health risk trend group data (without names or identifiers) will be shared with Fire and EMS Unions, co-partners in the BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, and other experts so that lessons learned can help other first responders.
How does coming to BHS for this WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program help my fellow FDNY members and me?
- Compared to other WTC workers and volunteers, you and your fellow FDNY members received the most unique and extensive WTC exposures of known and unknown particles. The WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program provides, both individually and collectively, early detection, treatment plans, and pertinent information that will ensure the future health and safety of all FDNY members.
- Prior FDNY BHS group outcomes have already established some of the health impacts caused by the unique WTC exposure of our FDNY members.
- The continued participation of our FDNY members, active and retired, in the BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program is critical. This will allow BHS to continue monitoring the delayed, and developing, long-term WTC-related health outcomes, raise public awareness, and seek ongoing funding for the current and future health needs of our FDNY WTC first responders, active and retired.
I feel well, why should I come for a WTC monitoring medical?
We are glad that you feel well, but other members were not so lucky. Without your participation, others may conclude that you have no problems or concerns. The best assurance for continued healthcare is to stay in the BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program even if you feel well today. The BHS WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program is designed to follow your health for at least a five-year period. Not all health impacts cause symptoms you are aware of, so by getting monitored periodically, it may be possible to detect any late-starting conditions or disease.
Let your BHS healthcare professionals serve you! The Bureau of Health Services (BHS) values deeply your lifetime commitment to our FDNY family and your extraordinary service and sacrifice on behalf of the people of New York.
You took care of New York. Now, let us take care of you!
