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DOT And Travel

WellessenceMD

Primary Care Physicians & Weight Management Physicians located in Schaumburg, IL

Maintain your health by visiting WellessenceMD in Schaumburg, Illinois for D.O.T. physical examinations. At WellessenceMD, patients throughout the northern and western Chicagoland areas can obtain a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical health assessment and screenings to ensure that professional drivers are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit to operate a commercial vehicle.

Coming up in Spring 2023!!!

Travel Medicine specialist at WellessenceMD provides health advice and protection against disease for international travelers. Find out what you need to know as you prepare to travel abroad.

847-469-4612

DOT Physical Exams and Travel Medicine Q & A

What happens during a DOT Physical?

Your certified medical examiner will check your vital signs and perform a thorough examination, evaluating several health-related categories, such as:

Back and Spine
Mouth and Throat
Eyes and Ears
Lungs and Chest
Heart
Extremities
Nervous System

When the physical is concluded, the provider at WellessenceMD in Schaumburg will report the results to the National Registry of Certified Examiners (NRCME). Certified drivers will receive a copy of the medical examiner’s certificate (MEC) or DOT medical card.

How to prepare for a DOT Physical

The DOT Physical should take approximately 45 minutes. Please bring all necessary documents to your appointment; these include:

A valid driver’s license
List of current medications
List of past surgeries and medical conditions
List of any allergies

If the driver has any pre-existing conditions requiring additional paperwork, please bring that information with you. Examples of documentation include a copy of recent blood work, stress test or echocardiogram for those with medical exemptions for vision, hearing, or seizure disorder.

The Pretravel Consultation

The pretravel consultation offers a dedicated time to prepare travelers for the health concerns that might arise during their trips. The objectives of the pre-travel consultation are to:

Perform an individual risk assessment.
Communicate to the traveler anticipated health risks.
Provide risk management measures, including immunizations, malaria prophylaxis, and other medications as indicated.

THE TRAVEL MEDICINE SPECIALIST

Travel medicine specialists at WellessenceMD have in-depth knowledge of immunizations, risks associated with specific destinations, and the implications of traveling with underlying conditions. Therefore, comprehensive consultation with a travel medicine expert is indicated for all travelers and is particularly important for those with a complicated health history, special risks (such as traveling at high altitudes or working in refugee camps), or exotic or complicated itineraries. Clinicians who wish to be travel medicine providers are encouraged to join the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) and consider specialty training and certification.

COMPONENTS OF A PRETRAVEL CONSULTATION

Effective pre-travel consultations require attention to the health background of the traveler and incorporate the itinerary, trip duration, travel purpose, and activities, all of which determine health risks. The pre-travel consultation is a major opportunity to educate the traveler about health risks at the destination and how to mitigate them. The typical pre-travel consultation does not include a physical examination; a separate appointment with the same or a different provider may be necessary to assess a person’s fitness to travel. Because travel medicine clinics are not available in some communities, primary care physicians should seek guidance (by phone or other communication, if available) from travel medicine specialists to address areas of uncertainty.

Travel health advice should be personalized, highlighting the likely exposures and also reminding the traveler of ubiquitous risks, such as injury, foodborne and waterborne infections, vector-borne disease, respiratory tract infections, and bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections. Balancing the cautions with an appreciation of the positive aspects of the journey leads to more meaningful pre-travel consultation. Attention to the cost of recommended interventions may be critical. Some travelers may not be able to afford all of the recommended immunizations and medications, a situation that requires prioritizing interventions.

Note: Immunity can take at least 10-14 days to develop. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you schedule your appointment four to six weeks before your departure, if possible.