See an AME specialist or non-AME?

[mh2213]

Wondering if people recommend seeing specialists who happen to also be AMEs or if it's better for your AME to be the only AME you see and to go to non-AME specialists... any thoughts?

 

[midlifeflyer]

I have two answers.

When I go to a doctor for something other than a medical certificate exam or consultation I don't ask if they happen to be an AME or not. I have no idea if the guy who replaced my hip 14 years ago was an AME or not. I knew he had a good rep and was teaching the procedure to other surgeons. That was good enough for me.

I would never use an AME I was going to use as an AME as a personal physician. And vice versa.

 

[Rushie]

I don’t even know if you can find a cardiologist, neurologist, rheumatologist, ophthalmologist, etc. who’s an AME, who’s convenient to you, comes highly recommended, and in your insurance network. Them being an AME would be the last thing I’d think of.

Are you referring to a specific kind of specialist like a psychiatrist for substance abuse certification problems?

 

[mh2213]

I don’t even know if you can find a cardiologist, neurologist, rheumatologist, ophthalmologist, etc. who’s an AME, who’s convenient to you, comes highly recommended, and in your insurance network. Them being an AME would be the last thing I’d think of.

Are you referring to a specific kind of specialist like a psychiatrist for substance abuse certification problems?

It's for a cardiologist for some mild chest pain. I've had it checked at the ER and my primary care who ruled out a heart attack and don't think it's a cardiac issue... between the two I've had multiple normal EKG's now... but it's nagging at me and I'd like to make sure. Surprisingly, I do have an option of a cardiologist who ticks all the boxes you mention and is an AME.

 

[luvflyin]

Someone said once, have two doctors. One to keep you healthy, one to keep your job. And don't tell either of them about the other

 

[mh2213]

Someone said once, have two doctors. One to keep you healthy, one to keep your job. And don't tell either of them about the other

Yes, agreed. I'm not thinking of using the specialist as my AME. I guess my question is, is it to my advantage to have a specialist who is an AME and thus understands FAA protocols? Or am I better off relying on my own AME to interpret what non-AME specialists say into FAA-speak?

 

[luvflyin]

Yes, agreed. I'm not thinking of using the specialist as my AME. I guess my question is, is it to my advantage to have a specialist who is an AME and thus understands FAA protocols? Or am I better off relying on my own AME to interpret what non-AME specialists say into FAA-speak?

I dunno. I was just getting that quip out there. I can see a logic in having an AME be your treating doctor because he's more likely to get all the i's dotted and the t's crossed that need to be to get you through getting a medical.

 

[Brad W]

not that I know anything about it, but what luvflyin said....
Just thinking it through...and this might ot be correct at all, but it seems plausible
I can imagine the AME cardiologist...if you tell him you're a pilot, might know that in addition to this one test that your need for your health, there's another simple variation he could add on that the FAA will want.... or might be able to change a word in his diagnosis to save you lots of problems.
so then in my thinking the question is...
if the AME doc that is NOT acting as your AME finds something that IS an issue affecting your FAA medical, is he in some way obligated to report it?
but then if he's not obligated...then are you not obligated to tell your AME or the FAA?
and if that's the case
it seems to me the AME cardiologist MIGHT be helpful...but would not cause you any problems...in theory.....
but then again he knows what issues to look for that the non-AME cardio doc may not even look for or mention...

 

[Plano Pilot]

Someone said once, have two doctors. One to keep you healthy, one to keep your job. And don't tell either of them about the other

My primary Dr. is a pilot but has not flown in a few years. He is not an AME. Nice thing is he knows some of how the FAA medical department works. Like any prescription he wants to give me I need to check against the FAA list.

 

[Rushie]

It's for a cardiologist for some mild chest pain. I've had it checked at the ER and my primary care who ruled out a heart attack and don't think it's a cardiac issue... between the two I've had multiple normal EKG's now... but it's nagging at me and I'd like to make sure. Surprisingly, I do have an option of a cardiologist who ticks all the boxes you mention and is an AME.

Well you are going to have to report the ER visit anyway, and the FAA may require more followup tests.

After an event like that are you grounded until it’s sorted out? To your question I would say it depends on what kind of AME the cardiologist is. Will he go strictly by what he knows the FAA will want (if anything) or will he go all in with every test, fishing for something? (like I just went through with a cardiologist for the flimsiest of reasons)

If your regular AME is good, my inclination would be to consult with him before taking any other action. Or just ask Bruce here. Your PCP didn’t think it necessary to refer you for more testing, why do you not take his word? Why is it nagging at you? (Not judging, I’m the stupid idiot that got myself into a cardiac work up.) Is there a diagnosis for the chest pain? You’re going to need the ER records anyway.

For all I know the FAA will want you to go to the cardiologist anyway, so maybe wouldn’t hurt to just go straight to him, but if it were me, I would still make the first visit a consultation over the certification issues and if he says he thinks the FAA won’t require further testing, then go from there whether your nagging worry is really a reason to do anything else.