Performance assessment. Family physicians in Montreal meet the mark!
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical performance of a representative non-volunteer sample of family physicians in metropolitan Montreal, Que.


METHODS
Assessment of clinical performance was based on inspection visits to offices, peer review of medical records, and chart-stimulated recall interviews. The procedure was the one usually followed by the Professional Inspection Committee of the Collège des médecins du Québec.


METHODS
Family physicians' practices in metropolitan Montreal.


METHODS
One hundred randomly selected family physicians.


METHODS
For each physician, 30 randomly chosen patient charts with data on three to five previous visits were reviewed using explicit criteria and a standard scale using global scores from 1 to 5 (unacceptable to excellent).


METHODS
Scores were assigned for office practices; record keeping; number of continuing medical education (CME) activities; and quality of clinical performance assessed in terms of investigation plan, diagnostic accuracy, treatment plan, and relevance of care.


RESULTS
Overall performance was judged to be good to excellent for 98% of physicians in their private practices; for 90% of physicians concerning CME activities; for 94% of physicians concerning their clinical performance in terms of quality of care; and for 75% of physicians as to record keeping. There was a link between record keeping and quality of care as well as between the number of CME activities and quality of care.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall clinical performance of family physicians in the greater Montreal region is excellent.
Goulet
François
F
Practice Enhancement Division, Collège des médecins du Québec, Montreal, Que. goulet.cmq@sympatico.ca
Jacques
André
A
Gagnon
Robert
R
Bourbeau
Denis
D
Laberge
Denis
D
Melanson
Jacques
J
Ménard
Claude
C
Racette
Pierre
P
Rivest
Raymond
R
D000328:Adult; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011361:Professional Competence; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011792:Quebec