Understanding OPPE, part 4: An OPPE system for professionalism

Last month, we began the design of an actual OPPE system that can be used in your organization, starting with clinical case review. This month, a second OPPE measure will be added: professionalism. The recognition of professional conduct as a legitimate metric for the assessment of physician competence has been extensively debated and discussed. Multiple sources have weighed in on the validity of this, including the federal government in the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986, The Joint Commission, the AMA, and the American College of Physician Executives. Yet many medical staffs continue to struggle with this challenge in their organization. Perhaps here, more than anywhere else, there's a need to define clearly, state processes explicitly, and lay out corrective measures proactively. We again will use a five-step process to guide the design and implementation of the OPPE system.

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