Question on failed DOT physical

Then that ME is NOT following FMCSA rules. AND SHOULD BE REPORTED!
It's actually 45 days an examiner can leave a physical pending based on getting more information. This is covered by 391.43(g)(4).

Beginning December 22, 2015, if the medical examiner finds that the determination of whether the person examined is physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle in accordance with § 391.41(b) should be delayed to receive additional information or to conduct further examination in order for the medical examiner to make such determination, he or she must inform the person examined that the additional information must be provided or the further examination completed within 45 days, and that the pending status of the examination will be reported to FMCSA.


This is covered by 391.43(g)(5)(i)(b).

Beginning June 22, 2018 by midnight (local time) of the next calendar day after the medical examiner completes a medical examination for any driver who is required to be examined by a medical examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, the medical examiner must electronically transmit to FMCSA, via a secure FMCSA-designated Web site, a completed CMV Driver Medical Examination Results Form, MCSA-5850. The Form must include all information specified for each medical examination conducted for each driver who is required to be examined by a medical examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners in accordance with the provisions of this subpart E, and should also include information for each driver who is required by a State to be examined by a medical examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners in accordance with the provisions of this subpart E and any variances from those provisions adopted by such State.

 

I want to add some background to ALL my comments in this thread and everyone like it. If you are picking up hostility against MEs then pat yourself on the back because I have loads of it. For a lot of members here, the word Concentra is vulgar to them. Most MEs don't fully follow the FMCSA medical examiners handbook. Many of them are still incorrectly using the Ishihara test. Pay attention to paragraph 4.4.4.4.3 below. This is from page 21 of the said handbook.


It is OK to use the Ishihara test, but if the driver can tell the difference between those three colors the ME is not supposed to fail them, many actually will. I know of 3 lawsuits currently active now on that very topic. I won't even get started on the corruption and the incestuous relationships between MEs, sleep clinics, and CPAP makers. Folks use extreme caution when dealing with these MEs.

 

Ever wonder what happens to the bottom 10% from medical school? The ones who just barely squeaked by? These people have to go somewhere to go to work.
Docs-in-a-box clinics hire them. You'd be surprised at how little money they make and how crappy the working conditions are.
Companies like Concentra and the low GPA newly graduated doctors are made for each other.

To re-tell an old joke...."What do you call the guy who graduated absolute last in his medical school? You call him Doctor".
Same goes for airline pilots. Somebody has to be the worst pilot at United Airlines. The guy that just barely stumbles through the recurrent training and sim rides is called...Captain.

 

That being said, most of the doctors I know are pretty good at what they do. I was married to one for over fifty years and I've met quite a few socially and in their line of business.
But there are quacks out there too, a surprisingly large number. Doctors and other health care professionals have one of the highest percentages of substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide when you figure it on a per capita basis.
And, like I said, the ones with poor performance records, too many suits for malpractice, or just plain ineptitude have to work somewhere.
My wife was a pediatrician and when she went out on her own and opened a clinic she was looking for doctors to join her practice. She round filed an average of seventy five percent of the people applying. She wanted good doctors and nurses. Competent people. She got them but it took a while and she waded through a lot of culls first.
It was a real eye opener for me.

 

In my journey of coping with epilepsy, I went through 4 neurologists before I found my current one. The first one many years ago on my first visit ordered some testing and also did something interesting. At the time I had an open sore on my knee from a fall about a week earlier. So Dr. Birdbrain needs to test my reflex and hits my knee right on that open sore. Opening it and requiring a nurse to come to help me get cleaned up and rebandaged the knee. I never went back. The next Dr actually asked me if I had ever used or currently using illegal drugs or illegally using legal drugs. I said I was taking 5% Versed for seizure control I was getting black market. This was something I never lied about. So this idiot decides I am a dope addict and basically blows me off. The next Dr was a great doctor, but he left the area. My Current one is good and Keri and I have 24/7 access to his service.

I got really lucky with my Current Veterans Affairs Heart Doc. I also have a first-rate Endocrinologist who works well with my other providers. I feel lucky to have the medical team that cares for me. However, I did have to go through some Richards.

 

I'm glad VA is working out for you. I had some bad experiences with them and I'll never go back. When I tried them they had nothing but immigrants for doctors and the communication problems were really bad. I tried a different VA facility and they wanted to shoot everybody senseless with thorazine, warehouse them, and get around to treating their physical ailments when they felt like it. I literally had to punch my way out of there. It cost me a couple of days in jail and a fine but even that was better than the VA and I could at least talk to the guards.
I get good care at our local hospital and I don't have to hit people to communicate with them.

 

I’ve never encountered an actual MD at a clinic doing DOT medicals

it’s PA’s and NP’s

And avoid concentra if at all possible

Everyone I’ve ever been to is 100% staffed with total Morons .
And they churn through them . I bed concentra has a higher percentage turnover than any trucking company .

I get my dot physicals done at the CVS pharmacy clinic .

 

In my case, I did go through some really bad providers at the VA. In fact the Hampton Virginia VA Hospital last I knew only had one Neurologist and this is the clown that opened up my knee. I am on my 4th Primary care provider now. 2nd Podiatrist and 2nd Endocrinologist.

 

You can’t choose a PCM located outside of the VA? I don’t know because I have Tricare Primary, but I know I can choose a PCM off base as long as they’re in the network and approved as a PCM.