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Meeting of the State Liaisons

I-12 Meeting of the State Liaisons

The AMA-SPS Governing Council will have an interactive discussion with the state liaisons on the topic of assessing clinical competency in senior physicians as they move into retirement age. In addition, the Governing Council will also present more information on the proposal for a Senior Physicians Section that will come before the AMA's House of Delegates Meeting.

Session Title: Assessing Clinical Competency in Senior Physicians
Date: Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 pm
Location: Room 318B, Hawaii Convention Center

Program Format: Presentation by SPG Governing Council Member Dr. Paul Wick, a geriatric psychiatrist, followed by a panel discussion with audience participation.

Panelists (Invited):
Barbara S. Schneidman, MD, MPH, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Board; Past President, Federation of State Medical Boards; and Former Vice President, Medical Education Group, AMA.

Peter W. Carmel, MD, Immediate Past President of the American Medical Association; Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Neurological Surgery and Co-Medical Director of the Neurological Institute of New Jersey.

Program Description:

The Senior Physicians Section would like to invite you to attend a discussion to address the issue of aging physician competency. According to a recent article published in AMA News, "one in five licensed U.S. doctors is older than 65," and many of those doctors will continue to practice due to the physician workforce shortage and the recent economic downturn. There is growing concern that declining senior physician cognitive function might affect patient care. The Senior Physicians Group Governing Council would like to work to effectively ensure high quality care and safety for our patients by collaborating with other stakeholders in this changing health care system.

While it is expected that a number of entities will be active in assessing, re-licensing, and credentialing senior physicians in the future, it is becoming apparent that physicians who are non-board certified or lifetime certified may come under increased requirements to maintain licensure. The Senior Physicians Group Governing Council would like to guarantee that the system is evidenced-based and does not discriminate solely on the basis of age. Please plan to attend this discussion so that we can discuss with our expert panelists and audience members the physicians' perspective.

Participants can provide some additional insight and guidance on how they think the issues may be addressed, and recommendations for the group proceeding. The program goals are among the questions that a future workgroup will be addressing.

Objectives going forward:

  • Recognize the most common age-related changes affecting physicians as it relates to physiology and pathology of cognitive function.
  • Relate how performance problems are mediated or influenced and in the context or system in which they take place.
  • Recognition of issue and when it begins to effect physicians. Discuss protection, remediation, alternatives, and how and when the problem should be approached.
  • Recognize the need for the development of formal systems to monitor physician performance and to identify and correct shortcomings.
  • Advance registration is appreciated. Please email spg@ama-assn.org or call (312) 464-5523 to register or request more information.
  • Print out a copy of the flier to share with your colleagues.