title: Dysfunctional doctors--will revalidation help?
abstract: Numbers of National Clinical Assessment Service referrals concerning practitioners' performance are much higher for the over-50s, especially in GPs. In 20% of cases there are concerns with diagnosis that are unlikely to be recognised by revalidation. Accurate and timely diagnosis is fundamental to patient safety, and the results of studies in which GPs were tested using mystery patients are not encouraging. We need to assess pratictioners' competencies in diagnosis throughout their careers. Plans to extend working life may require changes to the clinical responsibilities of older doctors.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of North Staffordshire. john.scarpello@virginmedia.com
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scarpello
mesh_terms: D054869:Clinical Audit / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003406:Credentialing / Q000458:organization & administration; D003933:Diagnosis; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012941:Social Responsibility