11 May
Truckers now have another option when it comes to getting their Department of Transportation medical exam completed.
Promise Community Health Center of Sioux Center is offering DOT physicals as a new service.
Roleen Walgenbach – who will begin serving at Promise as a part-time nurse practitioner on Friday, May 19, and who is a certified medical examiner for commercial motor vehicle drivers – will provide the service 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of each month. In addition, she will offer the service any other times she is seeing patients at Promise.
To make an appointment, call Promise at 712-722-1700.
All CMV drivers must have a DOT physical examination completed by a licenced medical examiner who is listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration National Registry to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The DOT medical examiner’s certificate is valid for up to 24 months.
“At times, appointments for DOT physicals are difficult to find, especially if the current certificate has a close expiration time,” Walgenbach said. “By offering this service at Promise, there is another opportunity in the area for drivers to choose for the exam. And, like all other services at Promise, the exam is offered in Spanish if needed.”
Nancy Dykstra, executive director for Promise, is pleased that Promise can fill a community need with Walgenbach’s service.
“We’ve heard there is a need, and our job has always been to try to meet the needs of the community,” she said. “We meet people where they are and in their circumstances. This keeps people working. This keeps people on the job. This is good for the community.”
Dykstra added that Walgenbach enjoys doing the DOT physicals, so she will be good at them.
“DOT physicals present a good opportunity to explore a person’s view of his/her own health concerns and past medical history, the preventative services that may be appropriate for age, and an opportunity to help the patient connect with primary care if needed,” Walgenbach said. “I also like to take advantage of teachable moments to promote lifestyle changes, particularly smoking cessation.”
TO MAKE APPOINTMENT:
Call 712-722-1700 to make an appointment for a DOT physical at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center. Nurse practitioner Roleen Walgenbach will provide the service 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of each month. In addition, she will offer the service any other times she is seeing patients at Promise.
MEET ROLEEN:
To learn more about Roleen Walgenbach, Promise Community Health Center’s new nurse practitioner and certified medical examiner for Department of Transportation physicals, read this feature story.