Medical oversight for every vessel in your fleet
Emergency-medicine physicians running controlled substances, the ship’s medicine chest and independent physician consulting, so your crews stay covered and your fleet stays compliant.
Seattle, 2016
Ann Jarris MD, FACEP
56 physician-reviewed guides
US-flag + open registries
Three services, one physician team
From first call to full coverage
Fleet review
A physician reviews your vessels, flags, routes and current medical setup to find the gaps.
Build the program
We put the registered medical officer, medicine chest, physician consulting and Consulting pieces in place for your fleet.
Ongoing oversight
Documented inspections, restocks and reporting, so you stay covered and compliant.
One team, from the medicine chest to the phone call
Most providers hand you a kit or a hotline. We run the whole medical picture: the controlled substances a general supplier legally cannot touch, the chest that has to match your flag state, and the physician who answers when a crew member goes down at sea.
Built by emergency physicians in Seattle who understand commercial fishing and workboat operations, where the nearest hospital can be days away.
founded in Seattle by emergency physicians
vessel programs launched, run by emergency physicians
One physician team vs the alternatives
| Capability | General supplier | In-house officer | Discovery Health MD |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEA-registered medical officer | No | You hire & payroll | Included |
| Controlled substances, 21 CFR 1301.25 | Cannot handle | You build compliance | Managed |
| Medicine chest by flag state | Generic kit | Your responsibility | Mapped & audited |
| Independent physician consulting | No | Separate vendor | One team |
| Documented inspections & reporting | Partial | You maintain | Handled |
Physician-led, not a call center
Ann Jarris, MD, MBA, FACEP
Answers buyers and search engines are looking for
Who is allowed to dispense controlled substances on a vessel?
Controlled substances must be dispensed under the supervision of a state-licensed physician, employed by the owner or operator, and DEA-registered, per 21 CFR 1301.25. We provide that medical officer and the registration structure. See Controlled Substances →
Is Discovery Health MD a replacement for free radio medical advice?
No. Free 24/7 radio or satellite medical advice is a seafarer’s right under MLC 2006 Standard A4.1(4)(d), and it stays in place. Discovery Health MD works on the other side of that call: the chest the advice draws on, the controlled substances it may reach for, and the rules your fleet has to meet. See Consulting →
Do you cover US-flag and open-registry vessels?
Yes, US-flag plus major open registries including the Marshall Islands, Panama and Liberia, each mapped to its own requirements. See MedChest →
Tell us your vessels. We will map the coverage they need.
- ✓ Physician-led review, not a sales call
- ✓ Every flag state and voyage type
- ✓ One team for all three services
- ✓ We reply within one business day