Actual BasicMed doctor physical exams

[tinerj]

Some pilots expressed the opinion that it would be difficult to find a doctor who would sign the BasicMed physical. I found that not to be the case.

Really easy. I found a clinic that specializes in corporate physicals, made an appointment, paid $55.00 and came out with the signed release.

Few items on the checklist printed from the AOPA/FAA BasicMed site ask about past events. Instead the items focus on the pilot's current physical condition.

The check box by each item is not "yes / no" or "pass / fail". Instead, it is did you the doctor examine this item.

At the end, the doctor must certify that he found nothing that would restrict the individual from operating a vehicle or aircraft. I think that wording equates a vehicle such as a truck or bus to an aircraft which puts the physical into an area the doctor is more familar.

 

[MassPilot]

Good to hear more success stories. I was lucky enough to have my PCP sign me off as part of my annual physical, but I will most likely be living in another part of the country by the time I'm up for a new sign-off so it's nice to hear I should be able to doctor shop at these clinics if my new PCP won't do it.

 

[Badger]

I had my AME do the Basic Med.
The whole time he kept grumbling about how this is stupid because the Basic Med is essentially the same exam as class 3, the only thing different on his end is the lack of computer work into the system. Sign the paper and he's done.

 

[James331]

I had my AME do the Basic Med.
The whole time he kept grumbling about how this is stupid because the Basic Med is essentially the same exam as class 3, the only thing different on his end is the lack of computer work into the system. Sign the paper and he's done.

Having a AME do it, seems like that takes some of the point out.

 

[Palmpilot]

I had my AME do the Basic Med.
The whole time he kept grumbling about how this is stupid because the Basic Med is essentially the same exam as class 3, the only thing different on his end is the lack of computer work into the system. Sign the paper and he's done.

Did you explain to him why you were asking for a BasicMed exam instead of a traditional medical?

 

[Palmpilot]

Having a AME do it, seems like that takes some of the point out.

If the AME uses the FAA's standard for who is fit to fly instead of the standard that Congress created, then I would agree with you.

 

[James331]

If the AME uses the FAA's standard for who is fit to fly instead of the standard that Congress created, then I would agree with you.

Also, as a fit guy, one of the appeals for me of the basic med (if I could use it) is its a step further away from being under the thumb of FAA/gov, having a AME do it kinda defeats some of the point.

 

[Palmpilot]

Also, as a fit guy, one of the appeals for me of the basic med (if I could use it) is its a step further away from being under the thumb of FAA/gov, having a AME do it kinda defeats some of the point.

I'm not sure that I see any practical consequence of that. Also, an AME is not a government employee.

 

[FastEddieB]

I think I posted elsewhere that I got my exam on Monday.

My PCP had zero qualms about signing it, and it was her first.

 

[Kiddo's Driver]

I got mine yesterday. First for him. He had no issues with it. Said it was similar to a DOT physical, but much more streamlined. He said he hopes he gets more patients coming in for them.

 

[citizen5000]

I had my AME do the Basic Med.
The whole time he kept grumbling about how this is stupid because the Basic Med is essentially the same exam as class 3, the only thing different on his end is the lack of computer work into the system. Sign the paper and he's done.

It may be less paperwork. But make no mistake. The 3rd class can result in permanent grounding. The BasicMed cannot.

 

[AKBill]

I called up my AME to schedule a 3rd Class medical. He said he was not doing any medicals until the fall told me to do a basic med. I guess he takes the summer off. Sure wish I could take the summer off. Off to see my regular doctor today, hope things go smooth....

As far as I know this AME is only FAA certified doctor in my town.

 

[Badger]

It may be less paperwork. But make no mistake. The 3rd class can result in permanent grounding. The BasicMed cannot.

correct.
To answer questions above:
My medical is due in May, my primary is booked until mid June, and even then, no guarantee that he will sign this document.
My AME charges $130 for class 3, $100 for basicmed
The AME used the form I handed him which I printed from the AOPA BasicMed site.

 

[Brad Z]

Just got mine done as part of my routine annual physical. Cost exactly $0, as my health insurance requires no co-pay for physicals. And to address paflyer's concerns, she did not make me drop my pants and check my backside.

 

[atbroome]

Just got mine done as part of my routine annual physical. Cost exactly $0, as my health insurance requires no co-pay for physicals. And to address paflyer's concerns, she did not make me drop my pants and check my backside.

What was done for the vision part of your physical?

 

[tinerj]

It was the first for my doctor, too. For vision, stand in hall on the mark, cover one eye at a time, read chart.

For color vision, look at card with squares of red, yellow, green, blue and state the collors. Well used card, so obviously the same color chart used for CDL.

 

[Brad Z]

What was done for the vision part of your physical?

Eye chart on the wall. Just remember DEFPOTEC (just kidding)

 

[mulligan]

Did you all have to pee in cup?

 

[MIFlyer]

It was the first for my doctor, too. For vision, stand in hall on the mark, cover one eye at a time, read chart.

For color vision, look at card with squares of red, yellow, green, blue and state the collors. Well used card, so obviously the same color chart used for CDL.

no ishihara madness? that's great

 

[AggieMike88]

Did you all have to pee in cup?

Many typical physicals will ask for this... checking for proteins and ketones in urine as well as normal kidney function. Maybe high sugar too. So I would expect this to be part of a BasicMed physical.

 

[AggieMike88]

Eye chart on the wall. Just remember DEFPOTEC (just kidding)

Once, when the AME's helper asked me to read the smallest line I could, right to left, I said

Alpha Siera Uniform November India Echo Delta Alpha Mike

Frowning at her cue card, she asked me which line was that. I said the bottom one. She said that's not correct. I said it was and asked her to go look. She wasn't amused when she finally clued in on the joke and made me do it for real.

And the doctor hasn't changed that chart in over 10 years... so to quote Donald Sutherland, "I may be blind, Frank, but my memory is perfect."

 

[tinerj]

Did you all have to pee in cup?

Yes, for a test of about 8 or so items, including those mentioned previously, with a machine that gave immediate results.

But not a drug test.

 

[azure]

Having a AME do it, seems like that takes some of the point out.

Why? Going to the AME was always the easy part of getting the 3rd class. The real hassle was dealing with OKC (e.g. being put back on an SI after nearly 10 years despite no change in my health status), and the expense of the tests needed for the SI issuances and renewals.

Certainly, the OPTION of being able to go to an ordinary doctor is one of the pluses to BasicMed. But unless one is having trouble finding a non-AME to do the exam/signoff, it's hardly the main point to it, or even one of the main points, IMHO.

 

[azure]

I had my BasicMed exam yesterday. I went to an AME since although my PCP agreed to do it, he hadn't seen the checklist when he did and I wasn't sure whether he was adequately equipped to do some of the vision tests (the color testing, in particular).

Yes it was basically a 3rd class exam. Blood pressure, far and near visual acuity, ocular alignment, 6 Ishihara plates. Peripheral vision test. Pee in a cup (stick for glucose and protein). Wait an hour and a half for the doctor to come in and check: nose, eyes, ears, ability to follow a moving finger. Listen to heart and lungs, examine abdomen for rigidity/palpable liver/spleen. Approved and fly safe. That will be $150, please.

Yes, $150. More than I ever paid in MI for a 3rd class exam, even with multiple SI's and CACI's. But this is New England, everything is more expensive here. I have no complaints.

 

[AKBill]

Eye chart on the wall. Just remember DEFPOTEC (just kidding)

You got it all wrong it was DEOTECZK...

 

[AKBill]

I had my yearly physical 2 weeks prior to the Basic med. I was planning to get my 3rd class medical so I could fly into Canada. Well as stated earlier the AME takes the summer off so I went back to my primary physician and she gave me another physical. At first she told me I needed to use an AME for a flight physical, I gave her all the forms and all was good. Guess I'm not flying into Canada this summer.

 

[MassPilot]

Yes, $150. More than I ever paid in MI for a 3rd class exam, even with multiple SI's and CACI's. But this is New England, everything is more expensive here. I have no complaints.

My AME visit last year was $175.

 

[Brad Z]

You got it all wrong it was DEOTECZK...

Like the old joke about a polish man taking an eye test..."Doc not only can I read that line--I know the guy!"

 

[Sac Arrow]

I pretty much had the door slammed in my face today. Doc thought that the certification part was beyond his means and didn't want to have anything to do with it. I'd rather do this than Class 3 route but I'll have to find an independent doctor that will do it.

 

[MassPilot]

I pretty much had the door slammed in my face today. Doc thought that the certification part was beyond his means and didn't want to have anything to do with it. I'd rather do this than Class 3 route but I'll have to find an independent doctor that will do it.

I would start calling clinics that do DOT physicals.

 

[Sac Arrow]

I would start calling clinics that do DOT physicals.

That's my plan.

 

[Brad Z]

I pretty much had the door slammed in my face today. Doc thought that the certification part was beyond his means and didn't want to have anything to do with it. I'd rather do this than Class 3 route but I'll have to find an independent doctor that will do it.

Did you ask ahead of time? There are over a million state licensed physicians in the U.S. and probably 95% have no idea what BasicMed is, or that they can perform an examination under it. I would presume many docs assume that any FAA related physical exam requires a FAA authorized doc to perform it and move on to their next patient without any further consideration. Sometimes it's best to start with the office manager and go from there. Good luck find one, they are out there.

 

[Sac Arrow]

Did you ask ahead of time? There are over a million state licensed physicians in the U.S. and probably 95% have no idea what BasicMed is, or that they can perform an examination under it. I would presume many docs assume that any FAA related physical exam requires a FAA authorized doc to perform it and move on to their next patient without any further consideration. Sometimes it's best to start with the office manager and go from there. Good luck find one, they are out there.

Of course I did, but the problem is I belong to a big institutional health provider and the doctor didn't even research the subject before I showed up.

 

[Brad Z]

Of course I did, but the problem is I belong to a big institutional health provider and the doctor didn't even research the subject before I showed up.

Figures. It will take a while before it all gets figured out. Seems like doctors are no longer the bosses of their practice anymore.

 

[AggieMike88]

Seems like doctors are no longer the bosses of their practice anymore

Amen to that... I know my current doc from high school. When I started going to his practice, all was simple, service quality high, pricing reasonable, he had time to chat with you, and other very good things.

Now he's part of one of the largest health groups in Texas.... not so much.

 

[NoHeat]

In what ways does a DOT physical differ from one for BasicMed?

 

[Sac Arrow]

I would start calling clinics that do DOT physicals.

What I'm finding is it is a) a big business, and b) most of the people that do this are "licensed medical examiners" and not licensed physicians.

 

[Palmpilot]

Of course I did, but the problem is I belong to a big institutional health provider and the doctor didn't even research the subject before I showed up.

Sutter?

 

[Sac Arrow]

Sutter?

Nein.

 

[MassPilot]

What I'm finding is it is a) a big business, and b) most of the people that do this are "licensed medical examiners" and not licensed physicians.

A physician's assistant or nurse practitioner can perform the exam on behalf of a physician as long as the physician signs it. I thought DOT physicals work the same way but I could be wrong.