Likeabat

Something I've always been a bit unclear on... say you have a dr. visit to check something out and it all comes back fine (or you have the problem treated - whatever)...

Do you report that visit on EVERY 1st class application for the next 3 years...or do you just report it the first time?

I have gotten different opinions. Some say once it has been reported then you don't have to keep writing it down every 6 months - others say that the application asks for "all visits in the preceeding 3 years" - so you have to keep writing it down until 3 years are up.

I guess it would be easiest to just call my AME and ask him what he expects me to do, but I am curious what everyone else does. I mentioned this to another pilot and he said he had never listed the same visit more than once in 30 years of flying - just reports any NEW visits (if any) since his last medical.

What say you?

Thedude

According to the PAs where I do my medical;
You report the visit every time for the three years.

Likeabat

That certainly makes sense based on how the instructions read. I just thought it was interesting when I did a bit of a "survey" of pilots I know that the overwhelming majority DON'T do it that way - most seem to subscribe to the "report it once" theory. I have to admit, it does seem strange that you can have surgery and, after listing it once you then put "PRNC" (Previously reported, no change) but if you have a sinus infection you are supposed to keep reporting it over and over.

I guess I will plan to keep track of my visits and keep reporting them for 3 years, though. It will just require a bit of record keeping.

TheCaseHD

Before I go do a new medical every year, I call my doctors office and ask for the dates I've been in for a period of 3 years. I may go to the doctor only once a year, so I end up reporting the same [old] visits again and again. I've asked my AME specifically about this before, and he said that is best way to do it. It does require a bit of record keeping - but I have my doctors office do it for me.

GogglesPisano

You can also simply download and reference an EOB (Explanation of Benefits) from your insurance company with the date range. But, most guys I know list a visit once and forget it.

rickair7777

I take it literally, and keep reporting them. I keep a spreadsheet in the same format as the medical form so I can just copy/paste the fields in order. Too bad the faa can't make med-x remember your data from six months ago...

But my (very old) AME recently started giving me a hard time about something we discussed two years ago...I suspect he didn't realize I was re-reporting everything. He's probably used to most pilots reporting it once.

If they only wanted the visits since your last medical, they would say so. Maybe that's the intent but it only works for PPLs.

Kikuchiyo

My AME said that he asked the regional office in Atlanta for clarification. They told him that the 3 year timeframe only applies to first-time applicants. For subsequent applications, only doctors visits since your last medical need to be reported. YMMV.

deadstick35

After some first-hand experience, I have to say there are a couple of good ones in Atlanta. Now if the mother ship would make it official...

outaluckagain

The FAA form says to report it, so best thing is to report it. I go around and around on this issue all the time, but end up reporting it anyway.

hannanmike

I am working as a scientific researcher for an MD based out of Los Angeles.

We have developed a patent-pending smartphone app that acts as an anonymous DIY sleep apnea test. It's a free app and determines the risk of having sleep apnea by just using a standard pair of ear-buds & microphone.

Based on my experience working with a lot of pilots & FAA, listing all your doctor visits for past three years has a very important angle to it.

Let's say you are detected to be having sleep apnea. After getting it fixed, your experienced AME would either send it over to FAA or just get on a phone call with the officials at the other end. One of the important parameters that is looked into is the number & frequency of previous visits to your PCP or GP. If you have properly documented these visits, it indicates to FAA that your current sleep apnea condition has not been a long-standing one, since it wasn't suspected during your previous doctor visits. That ways, they can quickly & confidently issue you a Special Issuance. However, if your previous visits have been too far back in time, they might try to scrutinize your documents a bit more. In the end, it all depends on how experienced your AME is.

The same applies for almost all medical conditions. It is always important to document all your visits, to present a stronger case in future, when a medical incidence actually arises.