Tip: Develop a robust policy on late-practice evaluation

Increasingly, organizations are implementing policies for evaluating older members of the medical staff—often for practitioners at age 70, or earlier if self-referral occurs. Here are some steps to consider including in such a policy:

1. An anonymous evaluation by selected references
   
   1. Peers and staff who work closely with the practitioner
   2. Assessment of the six competencies (patient care, medical/clinical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice)
2. Increased ongoing review
3. Focused review
4. Health evaluation
   
   1. The practitioner may use his or her own annual or employment physical
   2. The practitioner attests he or she has had an annual physical, and no health conditions that would prevent safe practice were found
5. Annual, rather than biennial, reappointment
6. In the case of ongoing illness, a comprehensive fitness-to-work evaluation may be requested. If the practitioner can safely practice hospital medicine, reasonable accommodations will be made whenever possible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Source: The Medical Staff Office Manual: Tools and Techniques for Success