URGENT CARE PHYSICIANS RECEIVE DOT CERTIFICATION

June 06, 2014

Professional drivers can complete their physicals at clinics across the country

There’s good news for all the road warriors out there facing new Department of Transportation regulations to operate commercial vehicles. American Family Care (AFC) and AFC/Doctors Express, the second largest privately owned operator of urgent care and accessible primary care facilities in the country, now has Department of Transportation (DOT) certified physicians on staff at all its clinics. All professional drivers, including long-distance truckers, limousine drivers and taxi drivers, must be physically qualified to operate their vehicles, ensuring safe travels for everyone on the road. Recently, the DOT added an additional requirement – all physicians performing the exams must be certified and registered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The certification material was presented in an online course provided by the National Academy of DOT Examiners, and all doctors had to pass a final certification test. All AFC and AFC/Doctors Express doctors at more than 100 locations nationwide are now certified by the FMCSA to perform these physicals. Many clinic locations are open weekends and offer extended hours, so professional drivers have the flexibility to complete their exams to coordinate with their busy schedules. “Our urgent care clinics are the perfect places for busy truckers and taxi drivers to come in and get their physicals done,” said Dr. Bruce Irwin, founder of American Family Care. “Our doctors are qualified professionals and offer the best care possible to these hard working drivers. We know their schedules are tight, so we offer an easy way for them to get the job done, both on the road and here in our offices.” The physicals check visual acuity (with or without glasses or contact lenses), color discernment, auditory acuity, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Drivers suffering from high blood pressure controlled through medication or diabetes controlled by diet can still receiving a passing grade on the physical.