Oakstone Publishing Reviews 

I’ve used their Practical Reviews product for a while. It’s a good way to get a snapshot of recent literature. They have their own reviewers provide a little editorial for each article - some have a good point, most are useless. But it at least provides a good reference point and CMEs. The app is complete garbage - crashes, formatting clunky, etc. Also - never pay full price- it’s “half-off!” most of the time. Kinda scammy in that way. They also offer year-end specials, gift certificate, etc- most of which are not valid for the product you actually want. They also try to get you to renew several months (6+) before your subscription ends, so keep tract of when you paid last. 3 stars instead of 2 because they do respond to questions and concerns, but then do nothing to correct the problem. I’ll be letting my current subscription run out.

I signed up for the Oakstone CME course called NRCME PLUS. This review course is designed for the 10-year recertification exam of the National Registry Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) for providers performing DOT Exams on commercial drivers.

There are 28 modules and each module has a quiz at the end. There is a post test and optional quizzes are available. The review date was marked January 23 2013, so one should assume the material is up to date.

Unfortunately, there are many errors in the review course and the material is outdated. Much of the material still reflects the 2012 guidelines which have evolved over the last 11 years. As such, this course will lead medical examiners to false conclusions and wrong answers on the re-certification test.

For example, NRCME-PLUS incorrectly states that a AAA is disqualifying when it the "AAA increases in size> 1 cm in 6 months. The correct standard is the AAA increases in size > 0.5 cm in 6 months.

Another example, is that they state the use of Chantix is disqualifying, however the MRB has discussed this, and Chantix is now permitted for drivers.

A final example of their errors, is to talk about using a vision exemption, when in fact the Vision Evaluation Report Form (MCSA-5871) has replaced the old exemption.

All total, I have discovered at least 38 significant errors with NRCME-PLUS. This review course needs a major revision from experienced medical examiners. It is unconscionable that Oakstone Publishers would release such a product of extremely poor quality.