Peer messengers help physicians get back on track

A program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville is making significant inroads in helping physicians improve the way they practice medicine or change behaviors after patients complain about them, either because of their actions or their clinical work. If they are having trouble with patients or not cutting it in clinical matters, they may get a visit from a “peer messenger.” Often the news they bring isn’t great. And that’s the idea.

Physicians don't always know they aren't passing muster, even when the hospital has the data that show they’re not doing as well as they might think. To help physicians get on track, VUMC’s Center for Professional and Patient Advocacy several years ago designed the “peer messengers” program.