NRCME

Truck Racing “Formally The Brass Ring”

Michael Megehee, DC

Steve Conway, DC JD

The Brass Ring:

The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners represents the

greatest opportunity for the chiropractic profession in our time.

In regard to government and professional acceptance, financial

and personal achievement, it is unsurpassed.

National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners

THIS IS NOT A FMCSA APPROVED OR

ENDORSED PRESENTATION.

Ideas expressed in this presentation are forward looking, based on current thinking, and may not represent the Final Rule of the NRCME.

The National Registry Mission

To improve highway safety by producing trained, certified medical examiners who can effectively determine if a

commercial motor vehicle operator’s health meets Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration standards.

Who are Medical Examiners?

FEDERAL DEFINITION –

“Medical Examiner” includes but not limited to:

Mds, DOs, ANPs, PAs and DCs

(DCs in 49 of 51 US jurisdictions)

Certified Medical Examiner:

The FMCSA makes no distinction between “non-medical” and “medical” providers.

To be a CME your state must have a licensing board, and your scope of practice must include performing physicals. UAs are

required (can be referred out).

We are in a Race!DC “Drivers” Wanted!

FMCSA Projects To Train And Certify

40,000 Medical Examiners in Two Years

Winner’s CircleRegardless of the economy:

All Drivers must have a medical exam at least every 2 years. Due to health conditions, 42% must have a exam at least yearly.Also required: 50% tested f/drug, 10% f/alcohol yearly.

FMCSA estimates 4.2 Million driver physicals will be performed yearly (+ CDL/MC 2012)

Estimated Market: $500,000,000 yrDrug and Alcohol: $300,000,000 yr.Non DOT Drug/Alc: ?????? 7X more estimated

We have the fastest Car!DCs Offices often Underutilized, more flexible scheduling

Lower Overhead allows Competitive Pricing

Staff Underutilized- ½ of exam, 99% Drug/Alcohol Testing

Equal Status- Level playing field for all CMEs

Ethical Practice Building –get paid for potential patients to come to your office

Helps Chiropractic into other Programs. AME, MRO, CS

“Drivers”…..actually CMEs

● DCs are enthusiastic, but inexperienced at performing the CMV medical Exams

● Most DCs starting from a dead stop

● “Other” Drivers are experienced, but they may be too busy driving on other racetracks.

Race Preparation

● You don’t win races by starting preparations on race day. Advanced preparation is needed for continuing education hour acceptance.

● The other professions have CE acceptance already in place. They have the advantage at this time.

● Those that start driving early, have a detering effect on the “other” drivers before race day.

“Driver” Training

Certified Medical Examiners will:

– Complete “required” training – Pass a “certification” examination

To perform Driver’s Examinations in the future, all Medical Examiners will need to be

become Certified.

“Required” Training

FMCSA approximates: 8+ Hours

Allowance for additional training specific to a profession– DC training longer.– Training is intensive

Training Providers

Providers must be “accredited” by a nationally-recognized profession accrediting body to provide CEUs .

Such as: Accrediation Council for continuing Medical Ed.American Nurses Credentialing CenterAmerican Academy of Physician AssistantsAmerican Osteopathic association Council on CMEChiropractic Providers of Approved Continuing Ed

Accrediting Organizations

Purpose:

Maximize Consistency

Provide Quality Assurance

Specific to gaining acceptance of approved training for CEs and MEs.(Objective: Remove obstacles to physicians becoming certified)

Removing Barriers to Racing

Cross-Professional CE/ME Acceptance

Examples:MDs attending DC trainingDCs attending MD training

Does your state accept ME credits? Limited?

Removing More Barriers

Reduce Cost to the Physician

Pre-Constructed Powerpoint Courses Available to training providers

Allowed: On-Line courses On-Line Conferences Live Presentation

Does your state allow on-line courses/web conferences? Limited hours?

The “Pace”Car is on the Track

PACE is a nationally-recognized medical profession accrediting body to provide CEUs. Are there others?

“Cross-acceptance” may be more likely between professions.

Board Review of individual Programs Unnecessary

On-line vs Live issue simplified?

State Board Choices● PACE Accepted

● MEs Acceptable (or increased)

● CE acceptance streamlined (due to expected #)

● On-line Accepted (or increased)

● Do none of the above (race car hitting the wall)

● Completed by: NRCME Final Rule (Spring ‘10)

Keeping the Car on the Track

● State Boards are the Pits (figuratively speaking)

● Recurrent training is required at least every 3 years

● Recurrent testing is required every 6 years.

Winning Races

● We have the fastest car on the track, but any Driver will tell you:

● Races are won, or lost in the Pits.

The NRCME really isThe Brass Ring…

Questions

Steve Conway, DC JD

Chirolaw@aol.com

715 803 4646

Michael Megehee, DC

www.TeamCME.com

drmegehee@yahoo.com

541-276-1938

Contact me for any DOT assistance.