What should Motor Carriers and Bus operators expect from the new National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners?
On April 18, 2012, a new safety rule was announced by DOT. The final rule requires healthcare professionals who perform medical exams for commercial truck and bus drivers to be certified by FMCSA. Training and testing standards can be found at FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners website. Effective May 21, 2014, interstate truck and bus drivers must obtain their required medical exams from a certified examiner on the National Registry website.
The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry) is a new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) program designed to help improve highway safety and driver health. The program will require all medical examiners (MEs) who wish to perform DOT physical examinations for commercial vehicle drivers to be certified by May 21, 2014.
◾All medical examiners must be trained and pass a certification test to be listed on the National Registry
◾All Interstate CMV drivers must obtain their physical exams and a medical examiner’s certificate from a certified medical examiner listed on the National Registry. Drivers are required to provide the medical certificate to the State agency issuing their CDL license.
◾The National Registry will not change how often drivers need to obtain a medical examination (at a minimum every 2 years). However, medical examiners may determine that an individual driver may need more frequent exams based on the driver’s medical history.
◾Employers must verify that drivers who complete a medical exam after May 21, 2014 have used an examiner listed on the Registry. They must search the registry for the ME who provided the driver’s medical certificate by name or registry number.
◾Drivers will still receive a medical certificate from the medical examiner after passing their exam; however, the certificate will now include the certified medical examiner’s National Registry Number
By: Dr. Michael Tigges
– See more at: https://samedaydot.com/