Communication & Client Relations Flashcards
6 cards from real AME practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Communication & Client Relations flashcards as text
An applicant discloses a prior DUI conviction during the medical exam that they did not report on a previous application. What should the AME do?
Answer: Document the disclosure, inform the applicant that the FAA requires reporting of motor vehicle violations, and defer the case to AMCD
Motor vehicle driving violations involving alcohol must be reported to the FAA Security and Investigations Division within 60 days under 14 CFR 61.15. The AME should document the finding, explain the regulatory requirement, and defer to AMCD for review.
A pilot's spouse calls your office requesting information about their partner's recent medical exam results. What is the correct response?
Answer: Refuse to disclose any information without the applicant's written consent, citing HIPAA and FAA privacy requirements
AME examination records are protected under HIPAA and FAA privacy requirements. Information cannot be disclosed to third parties, including spouses, without the applicant's written authorization.
An AME receives a phone call from an attorney representing a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit, requesting records from a pilot's FAA medical examination. What should the AME do?
Answer: Require a properly served subpoena or valid authorization before releasing any records
AMEs should not release records without either the applicant's written authorization or a properly served court order or subpoena. An informal phone request from an attorney does not constitute legal authority to release protected records.
How should an AME communicate the concept of 'dual-role' (FAA designee and medical professional) to a new patient at the start of an exam?
Answer: Briefly explain that as an AME they serve both as the applicant's examiner and as an FAA designee, meaning all findings are reported to the FAA, and answer any questions before proceeding
Transparent communication about the AME's dual role before the examination is both ethically required and practically beneficial for obtaining accurate medical history.
A pilot who received a denial is considering self-medicating to treat a condition that the AME identified. What is the AME's responsibility in this scenario?
Answer: Counsel the pilot on the risks of self-medication, the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment, and the obligation to ground themselves while medically unfit
AMEs have a counseling and patient-safety role. They should advise against self-medication, explain the importance of proper medical evaluation, and reinforce the pilot's legal obligation to not fly while medically unfit.
What is the most appropriate way for an AME to document a subjective complaint reported by the applicant that cannot be objectively verified during the exam?
Answer: Document the applicant's self-report verbatim and note that it could not be objectively verified during the examination
Accurate documentation of self-reported history is mandatory. AMEs must record what the applicant states, even if unverifiable during the exam, and note the limitation of objective verification.