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1. DOT OA: |
FMCSA – Physical Qualifications Division (Medical Program) |
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2. Preliminary Title: |
Medical Research Panels (FY2007-FY2008) |
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3. Subject and Purpose: |
Provide a brief description of the project. The project summary in the e‑Portfolio system may be used providing the information is current. Include: Topic, Specific Issues, Broad Goals, Potential Public Benefits. i. Topic: Medical Research Topics – 15-20 comprehensive or expedited scientific reviews, including those scheduled a follows:: Quarter 1 2006 – Drug/Alcohol (comprehensive); Diabetes Mellitus (expedited); Quarter 2 2006 – Sleep; Neurology (comprehensive); Cardiovascular (expedited); Quarter 3 2006 – Musculoskeletal (comprehensive); Vision (expedited);Quarter 4 2006 – Psychiatry; Renal (comprehensive); Infectious Disease (expedited); Quarter 1 2007 – Injury (comprehensive); Hearing; Post Surgical (expedited); Quarter 2 2007 – Medicolegal; Pulmonary (comprehensive). ii. Specific Issues: The Agency estimates that there are approximately 7-9 million drivers subject to the FMCSA’s medical standards and advisory criteria. A medical certificate is typically valid for 2 years after the date of examination, so it is estimated that a minimum of 3-5 million medical examinations are conducted a year. Medical examinations may be performed more frequently if deemed necessary by the medical examiner or required for the CMV driver who holds a Federal medical exemption, intrastate medical exemption or other special status. There has been limited research, particularly in the last decade, on the specific effects of medical conditions on CMV driver performance and safety. This research will define medical standards for CMV drivers in the United States. iii. Broad Goals: The goals are to provide scientific guidance on critical medical issues that impact interstate CMV operator health and safety, and to inform associated agency policies and programs, including rulemakings to revise and develop new driver medical standards. iv. Potential Public Benefits: There is significant evidence that improvement in the physical qualification of CMV drivers may reduce CMV crashes, fatalities and injuries. This study will improve credibility of the CMV examination process in the medical and scientific communities. This study may also improve public confidence in the CMV driver medical qualification process. |
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4. Is this dissemination likely to be: (check one) |
Highly influential scientific information |
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| X |
Influential scientific information |
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5. Peer Review Plan: |
1) What is the schedule for peer review? The peer review is anticipated to begin FY 2006, and continue through FY 2008. |
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2) Will the review be conducted through a panel, individual letters, or will an alternative procedure be exercised? The peer review will be conducted through a selected group that will submit written comments. The members include scientific panel experts (3 to 5 per proceeding) and FMCSA’s Medical Review Board. |
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3) Will there be opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be peer reviewed, and if so, how and when will these opportunities be provided? There is an ongoing plan to give the public an opportunity to comment. FMCSA will be conducting public meetings in major regions of the United States in FY 2006 and FY 2007, including scientific roundtables. In addition, the findings will be reviewed by the agency’s expert Medical Review Board which will meet on a regular basis in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. |
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4) Will the FMCSA provide significant and relevant public comments to the peer reviewers before conducting their review? There are plans to provide public comments to reviewers, through public forums previously described. |
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5) What is the anticipated number of reviewers (3 or fewer; 4-10; or more than 10)? There will be 4-10 reviewers conducting the peer review for each select medical topic or question. |
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6) What are the primary disciplines or expertise needed to conduct the peer review? The primary expertise needed to conduct the peer review will be experts with medical degrees (M.D.) or related advanced training (Ph.D, e.g., health science). The agency will have access to medical experts from all relevant specialties, including experts in occupational medicine and occupational health/safety. |
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7) Will reviewers be selected from within DOT or from an outside organization? And will reviewers be selected by an outside organization? The reviewers will be selected by the Chief, Physical Qualifications Division and will be experts chosen from other DOT modes or from the extensive medical community network for occupational health and safety. The Medical Review Board membership selection is made by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with guidance by FMCSA. |
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8) Will the public, including scientific or professional societies, be asked to nominate potential peer reviewers? Possibly, the agency is working with leading national medical organizations and has a Medical Research Fellow program with the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. |
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6. Contact person: |
Mary D. Gunnels |
E-mail: |
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Phone: |
202-366-4001 |
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