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Clinical Evaluation

Notebook and Fountain Pen

A clinical evaluation assesses an individual’s physical, cognitive, and visual skills to determine if they are fit to drive safely. This evaluation will be performed by an licensed and registered occupational therapist (OTRL) with specialized training in driver rehabilitation. An occupational therapist with this speciality is called a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS). The clinical evaluation will be completed first, and then in most cases, the CDRS will recommend the need for the behind the wheel evaluation. The goal is to assess whether an individual can meet the necessary physical, cognitive, and visual requirements for safe driving, especially after an injury and/or illness.

The Clinical Evaluation Process

1

Prior to the Evaluation

At Automobility, a physician's order is required to schedule an evaluation. An order must have the client's name, date of birth, primary diagnosis, and state "Occupational Therapy (OT) driver evaluation and treatment." Please also attach relevant office notes, if appropriate. 

2

The Evaluation

During a clinical evaluation, the CDRS will gather information regarding: 

  • Review of medical and driving history

  • Cognition (memory, processing, attention, concentration, etc)

  • Physical function (range of motion, strength, reaction time)

  • Vision (visual skills, visual perception)

  • Current functioning in home and community settings

  • Understanding of client’s goals and concerns with driving

3

Next Steps

Lastly, after the clinical evaluation, the CDRS will discuss your performance and results with you to determine the next steps regarding driving, including one of the following:

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