DRIVING EVALUATION - Off Road and On Road
Driving is an integral piece of independence for many people. With our driving evaluation, we work closely to support our client’s driving goals. The evaluation is done by our skilled occupational or physical therapists and overseen by our medical director and clinical director.
Each off-road driving assessment includes a comprehensive evaluation going over medical, physical, cognitive and visual capabilities to determine if you are safe to drive a motor vehicle. If it is unclear at that point whether you are safe to drive then the therapist will have you complete an on-road driving assessment. Finally, a written recommendation is put together to address any areas of concern.
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DRIVER EVALUATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
OFF-ROAD DRIVING EVALUATION INCLUDES:
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Review medical condition and status
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Driving history and license, recommendations for updating license as necessary
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Motor skills, strength, range of motion, sensation, coordination, balance, mobility status
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Visual abilities and perception
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Cognitive skills and knowledge of the rules of the road and proper judgment
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Route planning and traffic safety
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Adaptation, complex processing and managing situations
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Assessment for fatigue and possible decline in medical status
ON-ROAD DRIVING EVALUATION INCLUDES:
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Pre trip inspection of vehicle
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Backing out of a parking space
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Parallel parking
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Entering a roadway
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Driving on the open road (including speed management, distance from other vehicles, defensive driving, intersections and crosswalk precautions, and changing lanes)
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The on-road assessment requires you to have:
1. a valid driver's license
2. car insurance
3. a car in good working condition.
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Your car is used for the evaluation after a temporary removable passenger's brake is installed. At the end of the assessment you will receive the objective observations from the off-road and on-road evaluation in a confidential report to discuss with your family or medical provider.
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The evaluation is completed at the individual’s home or at the EverHome office and the car used in the evaluation is the individual's car.​
Once the evaluation is completed, the therapist will discuss the results of the evaluation and provide recommendations in a written report. ​
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SOME SIGNS OF UN-SAFE DRIVING INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
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Increased nervousness when driving
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Difficulty seeing road signs or pedestrians
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Has frequent "fender benders" or "near-misses"
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Experiences delays when changing lanes
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Drives significantly slower than the speed limit
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FAQS
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Q. Does EverHome automatically send the driver evaluation and written recommendations to the Department of Licensing (DOL)?
A. EverHome does not automatically send the driver evaluation and written recommendations to the DOL. The evaluation results and recommendations are provided to our clients and are considered confidential medical records.
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Q. Can I use insurance to pay for the evaluation?
A. Unfortunately, insurance does not yet recognize the Driver Evaluation as a therapy service and therefore does not cover the cost. The cost of the program is billed at the same price per hour as traditional home health, physical therapy.
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Q. If I pass my driver evaluation does this overturn my doctor’s recommendation that I stop driving?
A. You can bring the results of your evaluation to your doctor, and with this information you and your doctor can make an informed decision about your driving ability.
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