DOT Physical Gone Wrong...
Topic 11613 | Page 1
Question: I went to see my regular primary care nurse/doctor office for my dot physical, as the nurse practitioner told me she was certified to perform the physical. After she requested all my medical records from my previous primary care physician, she saw in my old files that I had sleep apnea a few years ago. Because of that, she won't issue my medical card unless I go for another sleep study to reassess me. The only reason she found out if because I indicated on the forms that I had a blood clot in the brain a few years ago (it's been resolved) and noticed the old diagnosis of sleep apnea.
I already paid a deposit to reserve my spot in private trucking school, classes starts December 26. There's no way in hell I can start if I have to go through this process. Are the medical examiners required to send the results of your physical to the DOT, if you don't follow through and don't obtain your medical card? I'm thinking of starting over, paying over $100 again elsewhere, with a DOT doctor who will not request to see my old medical files. Not through my primary care physician office who have all my past history. I'm beyond ****ed off.
When I got my DOT physical, I filled out some forms but they never requested anything from my PCP.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
Question: I went to see my regular primary care nurse/doctor office for my dot physical, as the nurse practitioner told me she was certified to perform the physical. After she requested all my medical records from my previous primary care physician, she saw in my old files that I had sleep apnea a few years ago. Because of that, she won't issue my medical card unless I go for another sleep study to reassess me. The only reason she found out if because I indicated on the forms that I had a blood clot in the brain a few years ago (it's been resolved) and noticed the old diagnosis of sleep apnea.
I already paid a deposit to reserve my spot in private trucking school, classes starts December 26. There's no way in hell I can start if I have to go through this process. Are the medical examiners required to send the results of your physical to the DOT, if you don't follow through and don't obtain your medical card? I'm thinking of starting over, paying over $100 again elsewhere, with a DOT doctor who will not request to see my old medical files. Not through my primary care physician office who have all my past history. I'm beyond ****ed off.
When I got my DOT physical, I filled out some forms but they never requested anything from my PCP.
That's what some of my trucking friends told me; go somewhere else and do it over. But I want to know if my current PCP who did my initial physical has to report/send over the results to the DOT, even if I don't finish/follow through with them.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
Are you insured? Some insurance plans cover the sleep study. My fiancé has sleep apnea and his insurance covered everything but $75 of the cost for the CPAP machine. If you're worried about time...it doesn't take that long. December 26th should be plenty far enough out to schedule and get everything done. The initial sleep study takes one night, then they give a more in depth one (if you need it) that is every night for a week. After that if you need a CPAP it's ordered and takes 3-5 days to get delivered.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Let me get this straight. You want to know if your PCP's physical gets reported to DOT?
As far as I understand the process, the signed report you get (your medical card) is all there is. Nothing gets reported by the examining doctor to anybody.
If that's true, you could walk into another DOT qualified clinic, who won't have access to your medical history, and get a "second opinion". Take that new medical card to your state license office, and pack for school.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
I think it does get reported, in part. Remember, the new rules on who can do a DOT physical were put in place, in part, to prevent what is known as "Doctor shopping."
I was trying to find the SHORT version, but I didn't have any luck. Basically, the person conducting your physical might have (should have) already entered you in the data base, to prevent you from "Doctor shopping," to get a medical card.
Dave
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Let me get this straight. You want to know if your PCP's physical gets reported to DOT?
As far as I understand the process, the signed report you get (your medical card) is all there is. Nothing gets reported by the examining doctor to anybody.
If that's true, you could walk into another DOT qualified clinic, who won't have access to your medical history, and get a "second opinion". Take that new medical card to your state license office, and pack for school.
Errol, did you see Dave's reply? So which one is it.... Ugh
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Check with your state. I know that in Mississippi I have to turn in my DOT physical card, whether in person or online. Other than that they get no info from anyone else. From what I've heard most states are similar.
But reading Dave's link I'm not sure. It may be that all states have not yet implemented this. Maybe you can try making an "anonymous" call to your DMV and ask about it. Maybe just ask them if your Dr. sends the info to them or if you need to bring in a medical card to put on file.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
Errol, did you see Dave's reply? So which one is it.... Ugh
Yeah, I read his. But I posted mine earlier, and qualified my answer with "As far as I understand the process". Then Dave waves the Federal Register book around. I'd go with Dave's answer now.
Pretty sure you're safe just going to another exam. No different than a failed test and recheck.
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DOT Physical Health Concerns Medical Certification Sleep Apnea Understanding The Laws
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Question: I went to see my regular primary care nurse/doctor office for my dot physical, as the nurse practitioner told me she was certified to perform the physical. After she requested all my medical records from my previous primary care physician, she saw in my old files that I had sleep apnea a few years ago. Because of that, she won't issue my medical card unless I go for another sleep study to reassess me. The only reason she found out if because I indicated on the forms that I had a blood clot in the brain a few years ago (it's been resolved) and noticed the old diagnosis of sleep apnea.
I already paid a deposit to reserve my spot in private trucking school, classes starts December 26. There's no way in hell I can start if I have to go through this process. Are the medical examiners required to send the results of your physical to the DOT, if you don't follow through and don't obtain your medical card? I'm thinking of starting over, paying over $100 again elsewhere, with a DOT doctor who will not request to see my old medical files. Not through my primary care physician office who have all my past history. I'm beyond ****ed off.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.