Tip of the week: When proctoring another physician, ask his or her side of the story

If a physician is being proctored because of a potential competence issue, it is important for the proctor to stay calm and friendly when discussing opportunities for improvement with the proctoree. “Explain to them the problem and get their feedback; their perception may be completely different from yours,” says Maninder Abraham, MD, hospitalist medical director at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ.

Prior to being told by the peer review committee that they aren’t performing up to par, most physicians don’t know that they are doing anything wrong, Abraham explains. Ask the proctoree why he or she thinks this particular problem occurred and listen intently to what he or she has to say. A systematic issue may be at play. If so, the proctor should report that issue to the peer review committee, which should then alert the medical executive committee. If the problem is not systematic, but rather a lack of technique or knowledge on the proctoree’s part, the proctor should begin educating the proctoree.

This week’s tip is from “Five essential tips for being a better proctor today” in the January 2011 issue of Medical Staff Briefing (subscription required).