Assessment of fitness for duty of underperforming physicians: The importance of using appropriate norms.

Objective: To determine whether population-specific normative data should be employed when screening neurocognitive functioning as part of physician fitness for duty evaluations. If so, to provide such norms based on the evidence currently available.

Methods: A comparison of published data from four sources was analyzed.

Predictors of physician performance on competence assessment: Findings from CPEP, the Center for Personalized Education for Physicians.

Purpose: To identify factors associated with physician performance in a comprehensive competence assessment.

Method: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 683 physicians referred for assessment at the Center for Personalized Education for Physicians from 2000 to 2010, who were evaluated as either safe or unsafe to return to practice. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors predictive of unsafe assessment outcome.

Physicians reentering clinical practice: characteristics and clinical abilities.

Introduction: Limited information exists to describe physicians who return to practice after absences from patient care. The Center for Personalized Education for Physicians (CPEP) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides clinical competency assessment and educational programs for physicians, including those reentering practice. This article studies the medical licensure status, performance, and correlates between physician characteristics and performance on initial assessment.