Exam Flashcards
Name 4 situations that require a driver to be physically qualified.
- Combined gross vehicular weight of 10,001 lbs. or more.
- When transporting 9-15 passengers, including the driver, for compensation.
- When transporting 16+ passengers w/ or w/o compensation.
- When transporting hazardous material that requires a placard under hazardous materials regulations.
Drivers must be medically certified how often?
2 years without exception. Can be shorter. Must be re-qualified after injury or illness which could compromise driving ability. There is no grace period.
Four non-discretionary qualifiers. Which 2 can receive exemption providing temporary regulatory relief?
Vision, hearing, epilepsy, diabetes. Vision and diabetes.
*The provider cannot grant these exemptions. We would qualify them as “otherwise qualified” if accompanied by an exemption.
Minimum age to be a CMV driver
21
What should be verified in terms of DOB?
That it matches the age.
From which date does examiner’s certificate expiration date calculated, original certification, recertification or any required follow-up examination?
Certification or recertification.
The driver is also asked to report any illness/injury he/she has sustained within the last __ years, whether or not currently under treatment.
5
Two or more unprovoked seizures is considered ______.
Epilepsy
Complaints of _____ or _______ are driver responses that may be the first warning signs of an eye disorder that interferes with safe driving.
Glare or near-crashes
What must you do if the driver reports current CVD?
Consult with the driver health care provider and obtain documentation prior to certification.
Due to risk of syncope and gradual or sudden incapacitation while driving FMCSA medical guidelines recommend not to certify the driver who has an ___.
And implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD). This includes a dual pacemaker/ICD, even if the ICD has not been activated.
Drivers on dialysis?
Cannot be certified.
How long can a driver with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus who are otherwise qualified be certified with a medical exemption?
One year
To pass the vision test drivers must have distant visual acuity and distant binocular visual acuity of at least _____ (Snellen) in each eye, with or without corrective lenses.
20/40
What is the only portion of the driver physical examination that can be performed and certified by
a provider other than a medical examiner?
Vision
Drivers must pass one of two hearing tests.
1, First perceive a forced, whispered voice in one ear at not less than ___ feet.
2. Not have an average hearing loss in one ear greater than __ decibels (dB) at ___ hertz (Hz),
____ Hz, and ____ Hz.
5 feet
40 decibels (dB) at 500 hertz (Hz), 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz**
*500 is half of a 1000 which is half of 2000
Under what circumstance would the driver usually have to go to an audiologist or hearing aid center for testing?
When they wear a hearing aid.
BP greater than ___/__ must be confirmed with a second measurement taken later during the
examination.
139/89
A one-time, three-month medical certificate is granted for which 2 hypertensive cases?
BP that is equivalent to stage 2 hypertension, or a driver that was certified with stage 1 hypertension has not achieved a BP less than or equal to 140/90 at recertification.
What is stage 2 hypertension?
160-179/100-109
What is stage 1 hypertension?
140-159/90-99
What is stage 3 hypertension?
> =180/>=110
When a BP reading is a value where the individual systolic and diastolic readings are in different stages,
you should classify the reading by the ______ stage.
Higher
For example, 168/94 and 148/104 are both examples
of Stage 2 hypertension.
How long can your recertify for a 1-year expiration date due to hypertension?
1 year if BP is at or below 140/90
How long can your recertify for a 6-month expiration date due to hypertension?
Six months if BP is at or below 140/90
How long can your recertify for a one-time certification of 3-months due to hypertension?
1 year if BP is at or below 140/90
You must perform a urinalysis (dip stick) to test for which 4 things?
Specific gravity, protein, blood, glucose
Glucosuria should prompt you to check what?
Blood glucose
At a minimum, you must check for which 7 things on the eye exam?
Pupillary equality, reaction to light and accommodation, ocular motility, ocular muscle imbalance, extraocular movement, nystagmus, and exophthalmos.
At a minimum, you must check for these 3 things on the ear exam.
Scarring of the tympanic membrane, occlusion of the external canal, and perforated eardrums.
In the case of Meniere’s disease it is recommended to certify or not certify the driver?
Not certify the driver.
The SPE certificate is issued for how many years?
2 years.
For how many years must you retain a copy of the driver medical records, including the certificate?
3
How long must a drive be symptom-free in order to be certified if they have benign positional vertigo or acute/chronic peripheral vestibulopathy?
2 months
True or false: Disorders of the labyrinth are disqualifying.
True
An individual diagnosed with Stage 1 hypertension may be certified for __ At recertification, an individual with a BP equal to or less than 140/90 may be
certified for __; however, if his or her BP is greater than 140/90 but less than 160/100, a one-time
certificate for ___ can be issued.
one year, one year, 3 months
An individual diagnosed with Stage 2 should be treated and a one-time certificate for ___ certification can be issued. Once the driver has reduced his or her BP to equal to or less than 140/90, he or she may be recertified every ___ thereafter.
3-month certification, yearly
An individual diagnosed with Stage 3 hypertension should not be certified until his or her BP is reduced to 140/90 or less, and may be recertified every ___.
6 months.
True or false: “One-time” certification means you cannot issue consecutive 3-month certificates for BP greater than 140/90. It does not mean once in a lifetime.
True
Certify or not? Driver presents with a one-time, 3-month certificate for elevated BP or hypertension and BP greater than 140/90.
Not certify
A history of stage 3 hypertension and BP greater than 140/90.
Not certify
BP greater than or equal to 180/110, regardless of any other considerations.
Not certify
How long can a driver who is disqualified for stage 3 hypertension be recertified if BP is equal to or less than 140/90?
6 months
How long can a driver who is disqualified for stage 1 hypertension may be recertified if BP is lowered to
less than 140/90?
One year
Which stage of hypertension is considered an absolute indication for antihypertensive medication?
Stage 2
Certify or not? Driver presents with a one-time, 3-month certificate for stage 2 hypertension and BP greater hypertension and BP greater than 140/90.
Not certify
Certify or not? Driver presents with a history of stage 3 hypertension and BP greater than 140/90
Not certify
Certify or not? Driver presents with a BP equivalent to stage 2 hypertension and the driver:
• Has no history of hypertension.
• Does not use antihypertensive medication to control BP
Certify
What is the maximum time a driver with stage 3 hypertension can be recertified?
6 months
Which cardiac condition is most common in sudden driver incapacitation?
Arrhythmia
What is the most common etiology for cardiac arrhythmias?
Coronary heart disease
What is the minimum waiting period for stabilization of anticoagulant therapy?
One month
What is the maximum certification period for a driver on coumadin therapy?
One year (with documentation of INR)
Disqualify driver on coumadin therapy under these 3 circumstances.
INR not being monitored, INR not demonstrating therapeutic levels, underlying disorder is disqualifying.
For drivers on coumadin how often should INR be checked?
Monthly
What is the minimum waiting period for post-surgical repair of an aneurysm (all types)? What is the maximum recertification period?
3 months, 1 year
Certify or not certify? AAA less than 4 cm and the driver is asymptomatic?
Certify
Certify or not certify? AAA greater than 4 cm but less than 5 cm and the driver is asymptomatic?
Certify but only with clearance from a cardiovascular specialist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving.
Certify or not certify? AAA surgically repaired.
Certify if driver meets post-surgical repair of aneurysm guidelines.
Certify or not certify? AAA needing surgical repair.
Not certify.
Certify or not certify? AAA greater than 4 cm but less than 5 cm.
Not certify unless driver has medical clearance for commercial driving from a cardiovascular specialist.
Certify or not certify? AAA greater than 5 cm.
Not certify under any circumstance.
Certify or not certify? AAA having increased more than 0.5 cm during a 6 month period, regardless of size.
Not certify
What 2 things need to happen before you can certify a driver with a h/o DVT?
Etiology needs to be confirmed, and treatment has been shown to be adequate/effective, safe, and stable.
Maximum certification period for a driver with a h/o DVT
One year
Maximum certification period for a driver with chronic DVT disease?
2 years if driver has no symptoms
What is the waiting period for post-surgical repair for PVD (intermittent claudication)?
3 months (etiology must be confirmed)
Certify or not certify? Pain in legs, at rest, due to intermittent claudication.
Not certify
Certify or not certify? Thoracic aneurysm less than 3.5 cm.
Certify
What is the waiting period after implantation of a pacemaker when the underlying condition is sinus node dysfunction?
One month
What is the waiting period after implantation of a pacemaker when the underlying condition is AV node block?
One month
What is the waiting period after implantation of a pacemaker when the underlying condition is neurocardiogenic syncope?
3 months
What is the waiting period after implantation of a pacemaker when the underlying condition is hypersensitive carotid sinus with syncope?
3 months
Maximum certification period if driver has a pacemaker
1 year
What is the waiting period for a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation treated adequately with anticoagulants?
One month
What is the waiting period for a diagnosis of atrial flutter treated with post-isthmus ablation?
One month
Minimum waiting period after being diagnosed with coronary heart disease, right ventricular outflow VT, or idiopathic left ventricular VT.
One month
You cannot certify a driver if they have a diagnosis of NSVT with a LVEF less than ___.
0.40
Certify or not certify? Has a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Not certify
Certify or not certify? Long QT interval syndrome.
Not certify
Certify or not certify? Brugada syndrome
Not certify
Name four things a driver must do successfully to pass an exercise tolerance test.
• Exercise to a workload capacity greater than 6 Metabolic Equivalents (METs) (through Bruce
protocol stage II or equivalent).
• Attain a heart rate greater than or equal to 85% of predicted maximum (unless on beta blockers).
• Have a rise in systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 20 mm Hg without angina.
• Have no significant ST segment depression.
Minimum waiting period after acute myocardial infarction.
2 months
Name 4 CHD risk-equivalent conditions.
- Presence of diabetes mellitus.
- Presence of peripheral vascular disease.
- A Framingham risk score predicting a 20% CHD event risk over the next 10 years.
- Being over 45 years of age with multiple risk factors for CHD.
What is the minimum waiting period for a driver after CABG surgery?
3 months.
*Sternum must be completely healed.
What is the minimum waiting period after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)?
One week
Minimum waiting period after heart transplant.
One year
Maximum certification period for drivers who have had a heart transplant.
6 months
Maximum certification period for drivers who experience syncope.
One year
Four types of murmurs which warrant additional evaluation for certification.
- Systolic, grade I or II, and the driver has signs or symptoms of heart disease.
- Systolic and grade III or higher.
- Holosystolic or late systolic.
- Diastolic or continuous.
Certify or not certify? A driver with moderate aortic regurgitation with abnormal LV function or more than mild LV enlargement.
Not certify.
How often should echocardiography be repeated when driver is certified with mild or moderate aortic regurgitation.
Every 2-3 years.
Certify or not certify? A driver with aortic regurgitation with an LV end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) less than or equal to 60 mm.
Certify
Certify or not certify? A driver with aortic regurgitation with an LV end-systolic dimension (LVESD) less than or equal to 50 mm.
Certify
What is the maximum time a driver with aortic regurgitation can be recertified?
One year w/ surgical repair, 6 months if not.
The certification interval for severe aortic stenosis that has not been surgically repaired should not exceed ___ even if the monitoring interval is greater than ____.
6 months, 6 months
What is the waiting period for surgical repair for aortic stenosis?
One year
Certify or not certify? Mild aortic stenosis that is asymptomatic.
Certify
Certify or not certify? Moderate aortic stenosis that is asymptomatic and the driver has no disqualifying findings and/or conditions.
Certify
Certify or not certify? Severe aortic stenosis that has been surgically repaired and meets all aortic valve repair surgical guidelines.
Certify
Certify or not certify? Aortic stenosis with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50%.
Not certify
Certify or not certify? Has LV dilatation LVEDD greater than 70 mm.
Not certify
Certify or not certify? Has LV dilatation LVESD greater than 55 mm.
Not certify
How often should echocardiography be repeated with aortic stenosis LVEDD less than 60mm or LVESD less than 50 mm?
6 to 12 months
How often should echocardiography be repeated with aortic stenosis LVEDD less than 60mm or LVESD less than 50 mm?
4-6 months
Five conditions that when comorbid with moderate aortic stenosis disqualify the driver.
Angina, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, LV dysfunction with EF <50%, thromboembolism.
How often should echocardiography be repeated for mild aortic stenosis?
5 years
How often should echocardiography be repeated for moderate aortic stenosis?
1-2 years
Minimum waiting period for surgical repair for aortic stenosis?
3 months
What is the maximum certification period for aortic stenosis?
One year
Minimum waiting period for post-surgical commissurotomy to repair mitral regurgitation?
3 months
Do not certify a driver with mild, moderate, or severe mitral regurgitation and has one or more of these 7 conditions.
- Symptoms.
- Less than 6 METs on Bruce protocol
- Ruptured chordae or flail leaflet
- Atrial fibrillation
- LV dysfunction
- Thromboembolism
- Pulmonary hypertension
Moderate mitral regurgitation should have an echocardiography how often?
Annually
Severe mitral regurgitation should have an exercise tolerance test and echocardiography how often?
Every 6-12 months
Recommendations for mitral stenosis are based on which two criteria?
Valve area size and the presence of signs or
symptoms.
What is the minimum waiting period post-percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy?
4 weeks
What is the minimum waiting period if post-surgical commissurotomy?
3 months
What is the maximum certification period for mitral stenosis?
One year