WKU News

Patricia Blewett, MD attended a comprehensive training offered by the American Association of Medical Review Officers (AAMRO) in Washington, DC February 25-27, 2011. Since 1992, AAMRO has set the standard for Medical Review Officer education and certification. AAMRO is a voluntary medical organization dedicated to establishing national standards for the certification of medical practitioners who perform drug and alcohol testing.

The training provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of the role and responsibilities of the Medical Review Officer in workplace drug testing. The course included detailed coverage of urine collections, laboratory testing, alternative medical explanations for laboratory-confirmed drug test results, alcohol testing, substance abuse professional evaluations, technical and legal considerations and issues involved in the MRO process, and guidance and risk management practices.

After completion of the training, Dr. Blewett took the re-certification exam. We are pleased to announce that she passed the examination and is now certified until 2016. Dr. Blewett has been certified as a Medical Review Officer (MRO) since 2001. A Medical Review Officer is a physician who is trained to review and interpret drug screen results. The federal Government requires that a physician be certified to review drug screens from CDL drivers, other transit drivers, pilots, etc. However most reviewers who work with industries obtain the same certification.