Pencil-whipped medical

[Unregistered]

I could not go to my regular AME for my last biannual medical exam. The AME I did see hardly did anything, no hearing, sight, etc. test. Since I visit my doctor regularly, I wasn't worried.

Yesterday, I went to the mall for a new pair of glasses and discovered that my corrected vision had become too poor even for driving. And the optometrist has referred me to an eye specialist for a problem he observed inside my eyes.

Mt question, other than NEVER going back to the AME who did such an apathetic job, what else should I do?

- Go back to my regular AME for another checkup now (1-1/2 years early)?
- Tell the FAA?

 

[bbchien]

You will receive (or should) a card in the mail from the FAA asking things like:

Did the AME have you loosen your clothing?
Did the AME take your blood pressure?
etc.

Let them know. This is a travesty.

 

[Ed Guthrie]

You will receive (or should) a card in the mail from the FAA asking things like:

Did the AME have you loosen your clothing?
Did the AME take your blood pressure?
etc.

Let them know. This is a travesty.

Bruce, this must be a random sampling process (small population at that) from the FAA as I have never seen the card you described. Never.

 

[RogerT]

Bruce, this must be a random sampling process (small population at that) from the FAA as I have never seen the card you described. Never.

I never have either in 30 yrs of medicals. However .. the two AME's I've
gone to both checked everything thoroughly. I've heard of pencil
whipped annuals ..but this is the first time for a pencil whipped medical.

I always used them as my GP too on the rare occasions I needed one.. so I guess they had pretty good records on me.

RT

 

[wsuffa]

Bruce, this must be a random sampling process (small population at that) from the FAA as I have never seen the card you described. Never.

Likewise here.

 

[AuntPeggy]

You will receive (or should) a card in the mail from the FAA asking things like:

Did the AME have you loosen your clothing?
Did the AME take your blood pressure?
etc.

Let them know. This is a travesty.

I have never received such a card.

 

[astanley]

I had a pencil whipper a few years ago. Went in, guy didn't even see my contacts in my eyes (after doing the up-close exam with the scope), didn't notice the ER admits on my application, anything. I pointed all of these out to him and he said "Oh, I should do something about that...".

It was a bit scary, but I passed none the less. I have also never recieved such a card.

Cheers,

-Andrew

 

[TMetzinger]

You will receive (or should) a card in the mail from the FAA asking things like:

Did the AME have you loosen your clothing?
Did the AME take your blood pressure?
etc.

Let them know. This is a travesty.

Hmm... The AME always loosen's my clothing, so that he can get his stethoscope in to listen to my heart and lungs... should he?

And yes, he always checks my blood pressure, should this be done sitting or reclining?

 

[Unregistered]

My medicals were being done by my regular MD until he quit doing the Airman's a few yr. ago. His physicals were thorough, including things like prostate check and etc. that weren't part of the regular stuff. For one renewal, I went to another guy after mine quit doing them, and it was an eye opener. They had a "nurse" do the eye tests...really some high school girl and I had to show her how to do it. In fact, she got so confused we had to redo all the eye tests. I even had to explain the color vision tests and how to do them and so forth. I was suspicious by then, so I timed my exam with the doc. It took exactly three minutes. Second class. I didn't go back.

 

[bbchien]

Bruce, this must be a random sampling process (small population at that) from the FAA as I have never seen the card you described. Never.

The audit was in August. You'll be seeing 'em, it's a two year cycle, unless you want second class privelages. Some of my First Class airmen have already seen them....