What happens if a driver is not truthful about his/her health history on the medical examination form? 2008-04-18 06:24:00 The FMCSA medical
certification process is designed to ensure drivers are physically qualified to operate commercial vehicles safely. Each driver is required to complete the Health History section on the first page of the examination report and certify that the responses are complete and true. The driver must also certify that he/she understands that inaccurate, false or misleading information may invalidate the examination and medical examiner's certificate. FMCSA relies on the medical examiner's clinical judgment to decide whether additional information should be obtained from the driver's treating physician. Deliberate omission or falsification of information may invalidate the examination and any certificate issued based on it. A civil penalty may also be levied against the driver und
I operate a CMV in the United States but reside outside of the United States. Can I use my foreign medical certificate? 2008-04-18 06:23:07 Yes, if you are a resident of Mexico or Canada. Drivers certified in Canada are certified to drive in the UnitedStates
, providing they meet U.S. requirements. For Mexican drivers, the medical
examination is part of the Licencia Federal. It is not necessary for Mexican drivers to carry a separate medical certifying document. A CMV operator from Canada or Mexico who has been issued a valid commercial driver’s license by a Canadian Province or the Mexican Licencia Federal is no longer required to have a medical certificate. The driver’s medical exam is part of the driver’s license process and is proof of medical fitness to drive in the United States. However, Canadian and Mexican drivers who are insulin-using diabetics, who have epilepsy, or who are hearing-and-vision impaired are not
Are there duties related to the FMCSA medical certification? 2008-04-18 06:22:11 No, the FMCSA does not have duties
. The Medical Examiner is required to know the FMCSA driver physical qualification standards, medical
guidelines, and advisory criteria. The examiner should understand the mental and physical demands of operating a CMV. Read more:related
May I request reconsideration if I am found not qualified for a medical certificate? 2008-04-18 06:21:14 The decision to qualify a driver to operate a CMV in interstate commerce is the sole responsibility of the Medical Examiner. The driver may discuss the basis for the disqualification with the Medical Examiner and explore options for reconsideration. Read more:medical
What is medical informatics? 2008-04-18 06:10:56 Simplistic definition: Computer applications in medical
careBetter definition: Biomedical Informatics is an emerging discipline that has been defined as the study, invention, and implementation of structures and algorithms to improve communication, understanding and management of medical information. The end objective of biomedical informatics
is the coalescing of data, knowledge, and the tools necessary to apply that data and knowledge in the decision-making process, at the time and place that a decision needs to be made. The focus on the structures and algorithms necessary to manipulate the information separates Biomedical Informatics from other medical disciplines where information content is the focus.
How often must I be evaluated or reviewed for my medical benefits? 2008-05-10 02:30:18 If you get family medical
benefits, you are eligible for 6 months. You must, however, report if there are changes in your family size or income. Some changes may affect your medical coverage. Remember, after 6 months you must complete a review so we can see whether you are still eligible for family medical. Medical cases have a 12-month certification period with a 6-month report. If the 6-month report is not completed, your medical will end. At that time, you will be required to report the following changes, when: v You move; v Someone moves into your household; or v Your income changes by more than $100 and you expect this change to last at least two
What happens when the medical extensions end? 2008-05-10 02:29:48 At the end of the medical
extension, your medical benefits are re-determined. If your income and resources are below the limits for family medical, you will be able to get medical benefits. If your income is above the maximum, your children may be eligible for a children's medical program. Children's medical has a much higher income limit. Read more:extensions
If I don't want cash benefits, can I still receive medical? 2008-05-10 02:26:43 Yes, you can get medical
without cash benefits as long as your income and resources are within the standards and you meet the other eligibility requirements of one of our medical programs.
When should I start thinking about incorporating a tracker into my medical device? 2008-05-10 01:46:34 A. During the development stage, if possible. Integrating a tracker into an existing medical
device without forethought can be the recipe for trouble. This approach can be expensive, time consuming, and will most likely not provide optimal system performance. For instance, the present configuration of the medical device may require the tracker to operate beyond its specified range, resulting in degraded performance. The best approach is to design the tracker in during the develo Read more:thinking
Can Ascension customize a tracker to my needs? 2008-05-10 01:46:07 A. Yes. Ascension
has a long and successful record of modifying tracker configurations to meet stringent medical requirements. In 2001, Ascension designed and developed for General Electric Medical Systems a new BIRD tracker with a pci bus interface and custom cabling in under six months. This tracker, pciBIRD™, is now available as an option for their Logiq 9 Ultrasound system. This year, Ascension added miniaturized transmitters and sensors to its product line to meet customer’s requirements.
Is it true that magnetic trackers are hard to use in medical environments? 2008-05-10 01:45:45 A. Yes, they can be, especially if the technology is first generation vintage. In the last 10 years many medical
device manufacturers have evaluated these early trackers and found them inadequate, usually because of accuracy distortion and improper placement. When developing the 3rd generation tracking technology the focus was and is to address the previous generation’s inadequacies. One of the major improvements has been metal compensation techniques. The improvement of these techniques continues. Botto Read more:magnetic
, environments
Are all magnetic trackers about the same? 2008-05-10 01:45:24 A. No, there are several generations of trackers on the market. These range from 1st generation AC electromagnetic
technology patented by Polhemus in the 1970s; 2nd generation pulsed DC magnetic technology patented by Ascension in the 1990s; and now 3rd generation magnetic technology patented by Ascension. The latter features the latest improvements and innovations in magnetic technology. First generation trackers are notoriously susceptible to distorted measurements in the presence of environ
What should I look for when choosing a medical tracker? 2008-05-10 01:45:00 A. First, seek a company that focuses on developing medical
tracking products and presents a robust record of bringing products to market. Making a tracker work in medicine requires clear understanding of technology tradeoffs, interface issues, and customization requirements. It is one thing to make a tracker work in a vacuum; it is a far different issue to make it work successfully in a medical application. Second, evaluate competing trackers before making a decision. At least one major medic
What is the difference between optical and magnetic trackers? 2008-05-10 01:44:37 A. Optical trackers operate by emitting a light source that is sensed by one of more detectors. While highly accurate, they are obtrusive and require a clear line-of sight between source and detector at all times. If an occlusion occurs, measurements are lost. This precludes use within the body and limits usefulness in application in which heads and hands move freely within a tracking volume. Magnetic trackers transmit magnetic
fields that permeate all non-metallic surfaces. These sensors hav Read more:difference
What’s the benefit of using a magnetic tracker with an imaging system? 2008-05-10 01:44:11 A. The combination of miniaturized magnetic
sensors with imaging systems lets clinicians follow a real-time graphic display of the current and projected position of interventional tools onto real-time ultrasound or recently acquired CT images. Using it, clinicians can quickly and precisely guide biopsy needles or ablation tools to soft-tissue lesions within the human body. The risk of hitting delicate, adjacent anatomy is also minimized. Magnetically guided intervention shortens procedures thr Read more:benefit
How are trackers used in medicine? 2008-05-10 01:43:51 A. Motion trackers measure the position and orientation (X, Y, Z, Yaw, Pitch, Roll) of one or more sensors in 3D space. Measurements are used to track the real-time motion of medical instruments and devices for localization and targeting purposes. In one current application, an Ascension 3D sensor is attached to an ultrasound scanhead for freehand data acquisition and subsequent viewing of 3D reconstructions of multiple 2D image planes. Ascension trackers are also used in mi