title: Assessment and remedial clinical education of surgeons in California.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment and remedial clinical education of practicing surgeons is feasible and possibly beneficial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Licensed surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured assessment and remedial clinical education based on resident-education models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment and clinical education results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven general, general/vascular, and colorectal surgeons were assessed by the University of California, San Diego, Physician Assessment and Clinical Education program in 2000 to 2010. Forty-six (98%) were male (mean [SD] age, 54 [11] years; range, 34-80 years). Thirty-three (70%) came from state medical board actions: 25 from California's disciplinary division, 2 from California's licensing division, 3 from other state boards, and 3 self-referred during other state board actions. Fourteen (30%) came from health care organizations: 8 from California hospitals, 3 from hospitals in other states, 2 self-referred during hospital proceedings, and 1 self-referred during a medical group investigation. Twenty-three (49%) underwent a 2-day assessment only, including a 1-hour mock oral board examination: 8 "passed" with no recommendations; 6, with minor recommendations; 6 had major recommendations; and 3 "failed." Twenty-four surgeons (51%) also completed 26 five-day clinical education programs, with 20 "passes," 1 minor recommendation, 3 major recommendations, and 2 "fails."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A program of assessment and remedial clinical education of surgeons designed to meet the needs of one medical board is being used by nongovernmental organizations as well, and it seems to meet the needs of some individual surgeons. This type of program may play a role in the profession's self-regulation.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA. cosman@sbcglobal.net
authors.forename: Bard C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Cosman
authors.forename: Aaron D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Alverson
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Boal
authors.forename: Erik L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Norcross
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates / Q000592:standards; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012073:Remedial Teaching; D013044:Specialty Boards