title: Ensuring Competent Care by Senior Physicians.
abstract: The increasing number of senior physicians and calls for increased accountability of the medical profession by the public have led regulators and policymakers to consider implementing age-based competency screening. Some hospitals and health systems have initiated age-based screening, but there is no agreed upon assessment process. Licensing and certifying organizations generally do not require that senior physicians pass additional assessments of health, competency, or quality performance. Studies suggest that physician performance, on average, declines with increasing years in medical practice, but the effect of age on an individual physician's competence is highly variable. Many senior physicians practice effectively and should be allowed to remain in practice as long as quality and safety are not endangered. Stakeholders in the medical profession should consider the need to develop guidelines and methods for monitoring and/or screening to ensure that senior physicians provide safe and effective care for patients. Any screening process needs to achieve a balance between protecting patients from harm due to substandard practice, while at the same time ensuring fairness to physicians and avoiding unnecessary reductions in workforce.
authors: Dr. Hawkins: Vice President, Medical Education Outcomes, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL. Ms. Welcher: Senior Policy Analyst, Medical Education Outcomes, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL. Ms. Stagg Elliott: Technical Writer, Medical Education Outcomes, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL. Dr. Pieters: Professor of Radiation Oncology and Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA. Dr. Puscas: Associate Professor of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC. Dr. Wick: Assistant Professor, Psychiatry Department, Senior Behavioral Health Outpatient Services, University of Texas Health Northeast, Tyler, TX.
authors: Richard E
authors: RE
authors: Hawkins
authors: Catherine M
authors: CM
authors: Welcher
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Stagg Elliott
authors: Richard S
authors: RS
authors: Pieters
authors: Liana
authors: L
authors: Puscas
authors: Paul H
authors: PH
authors: Wick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards*; D012941:Social Responsibility