IMAP-funded Survey Sheds Light on Physician Peer Monitoring Practices

A nationwide survey of nearly 3000 physicians sheds new light on physicians' beliefs and behaviors in dealing with incompetent or impaired colleagues. 

Published in the July 14th, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, and supported with funding from the Institute on Medicine as a Profession, the survey sought to examine four key markers: (1) physicians' beliefs about the commitment to self-regulation through reporting significantly impaired or incompetent colleagues, (2) their preparedness to report, (3) their personal experiences with these difficult situations, and (4) actions taken when confronted with impaired or incompetent colleagues.

The results raise troubling questions about the ability of medicine to self-regulate.  Only 64% of physicians believe that they have a professional duty to report incompetent colleagues.  17% reported having direct personal knowledge of a colleague who was incompetent to practice medicine in their hospital, group, or practice. Of those with this knowledge, only 67% reported this colleague to the relevant authority.

The results suggest that a large number of physicians do not support the current process of self-regulation, and that the current processes for reporting are under-used and appear to have major shortcomings.  As a result, patients are being exposed to unecessary and unacceptable risks to their health. 

Click here to read the full report in JAMA