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A first-of-its kind study on the accuracy of medical information recorded on a form used to determine whether a driver can safely operate a commercial motor vehicle and qualify for a Department of Transportation (DOT) card reveals discrepancies that appear to warrant a second look.
The mandatory Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Medical Examination Report form features questions designed to collect commercial drivers’ medical histories and document their physical examination results. Researchers found “significant inconsistencies” during a retrospective quality review of 1,603 forms completed in 2019. (The current version of the FMCSA 5875 form was updated in 2023.)
For the study, researchers abstracted data from one national employer. The examinations were performed by providers in a national network of medical examiners certified by the FMCSA to perform DOT exams.
More than half (55.5 percent) of completed forms contained errors. Medical examiners incorrectly or incompletely populated the form in 30 percent of examinations. Drivers inconsistently filled out their health history 38.7 percent of the time, including unanswered questions, inconsistent responses, or lack of necessary elaboration for positive responses.
The forms were reviewed by three FMCSA-registered medical examiners with board-certification in occupational medicine who were retained as corporate medical directors. The corporate physicians reviewed forms for completeness and documented their personal agreement or disagreement with findings based on The DOT Medical Examination: A Guide to Commercial Drivers’ Medical Certification, 6th Edition (2017). Strong disagreement could prompt a recommendation to restrict an employee’s operation of company vehicles.
While the study was confined to the experience of a single national entity, the findings suggest that it’s advisable for any company that employs commercial motor vehicle operators to monitor the quality of medical exam findings. “This study precisely illustrates the reason why WorkCare provides oversight of DOT exams for our clients,” said Fred Kohanna, M.D., M.B.A., vice president of WorkCare’s medical screening business division. “When we see these errors on DOT exam forms, we get them corrected by the provider, or we fill in the missing information after speaking with the provider or the employee as part of our review process.”
A DOT card is typically valid for up to two years. Commercial drivers with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, may be issued a card with a shorter validity period and require more frequent monitoring. According to the study’s authors, medical exams require attention to detail on the part of both examiners and drivers. “Continued research, education, and regulation are needed to decrease inconsistencies and omissions in DOT certification documentation, and ultimately to understand and reduce the risks posed to drivers and society by virtue of these errors,” they concluded.
Medical monitoring helps save lives and reduce the risk of property damage, injuries, and related legal liability costs in the event of an accident. WorkCare facilitates timely scheduling of physical exams with qualified providers so drivers can promptly obtain or renew their DOT cards. WorkCare reviewers are on the lookout for findings that require follow-up to correct errors or omissions, or that warrant another medical opinion as part part of our mission to protect and promote employee health.
Reference: Retrospective quality review of Department of Transportation (DOT) commercial drivers’ medical examination forms; M. Starchook-Moore, et. al; American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Vol. 67, Issue 12, September 2024; published by Wiley.
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