Primary Care/AME combo

[kellwolf]

Noticed this in another thread, but thought it might be deserving of its own. What is the general opinion of having your primary care physician and your AME as the same doctor? I found out by accident that the doctor both of my parents go to (and therefore the one I've declared as my primary physician for my insurance) is also an AME. I've heard it's a bad idea in case some medical DQing factor comes up, but not sure if I agree with it. He's a kick ass doctor, so I'd kinda like to stick with him as sort of a "one stop shop." Plus, if I have questions, he's more likely to know the right answer than someone who isn't an AME and would have to do some research. Thoughts?

 

[Malko]

Noticed this in another thread, but thought it might be deserving of its own. What is the general opinion of having your primary care physician and your AME as the same doctor? I found out by accident that the doctor both of my parents go to (and therefore the one I've declared as my primary physician for my insurance) is also an AME. I've heard it's a bad idea in case some medical DQing factor comes up, but not sure if I agree with it. He's a kick ass doctor, so I'd kinda like to stick with him as sort of a "one stop shop." Plus, if I have questions, he's more likely to know the right answer than someone who isn't an AME and would have to do some research. Thoughts?

If I am reading that correctly the concern would be your regular doctor, who is your AME knows about a DQ'ing factor and thereby may have a duty to report it.....

I would hope that if I had a DQ'ing factor that I would be the one to report it and not try to hide it from the FAA.

I would agree and think it is an o.k. situation to be in.

Others......?

 

[My Flight Surgeon]

Well you are right, if you have a disqualifying factor, you obligated to not fly and to report it on your next exam. Many pilots try to keep the 2 seperate (AME and doc) but if they follow the rules, it makes no difference.

It all depends what you are comfortable with.

 

[Old Pete]

What is the general opinion of having your primary care physician and your AME as the same doctor? ... I've heard it's a bad idea in case some medical DQing factor comes up, but not sure if I agree with it.

I have a primary care physician who is a specialist in internal medicine and cardiology who is also an AME, but I don't go to him for my flight physicals. Smart guy, in fact I have never seen a more impressive wall of diplomas in my life (Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic). But I can't believe he knows more about FAA flight physicals than the AME who I go to,(or someone like Dr. Forred) who does nothing but flight physicals.

Say a DQing factor comes up, is your family doctor going to know as much about special issuances as someone like Dr. Forred. And is he going going to "go to bat for you" as much as a doctor whose client list is made up of nothing but other pilots like you?

One other thing, in another thread where a pilot was having trouble with a paperwork error, I think Dr. Forred stated that 50% of AMEs do fewer than 25 flight physicals a year. Do you want your Dr. trying to figure out how to do the paperwork because it has been a couple of months since he's done one.

Since some one else brought this up, I'll address it: I in no way condone getting two or three different doctors in order to hide your medical condition from the faa. You will be found out and you will lose your Airman Certificate.