Assessing and counseling older drivers.

Under its Older Drivers Project, The American Medical Association (AMA) has developed the Physician's Plan for Older Drivers' Safety (PPODS), a 5-step approach health care providers can use in assessing individual patients for fitness to drive and counseling patients on driving safety. The process is outlined in the Physician's Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers, developed by the AMA in cooperation with the US Department of Transportation's (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While the Physician's Guide outlines the process in somewhat greater detail, the process is summarized here. The five steps are: Step 1: Informally screen patients for the presence of functional deficits that may impair driving performance; Step 2: Formally assess the 3 driving-related functions to determine the need for and course of medical interventions; Step 3: If functional deficits are identified, treat the underlying conditions and/or remove the offending agents; Step 4: If function deficits are not medically correctable, refer the patient for driver evaluation and rehabilitation; and Step 5: If the patient is unable to drive safely despite medical intervention and driver rehabilitation, counsel the patient on driving retirement.