Physician performance feedback in a Canadian academic center

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Medical Education
• Physician Performance

Background:

• Physicians identified effective performance feedback as a priority in organization-wide surveys.
• A need existed for a structured, comprehensive annual feedback process to support physician professional development.
• Existing feedback mechanisms may have been insufficient or lacked a formative approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a comprehensive, formative annual physician performance feedback process.
• To assess physician satisfaction and perceptions of the new feedback system.
• To identify areas for process improvement in physician performance evaluation.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining surveys and focus groups was employed.
• Physician leaders received mandatory training prior to conducting feedback discussions.
• The process involved feedback data collection and subsequent performance discussions.

Main Results:

• 98% of eligible physicians participated in the feedback process.
• Physicians supported the formative feedback concept but suggested improvements like tool simplification and objective metrics.
• 98% of trained physician leaders found the process and training useful.

Conclusions:

• The implemented physician performance feedback model shows promise for enhancing professional development.
• Addressing identified areas for improvement can optimize the feedback process.
• This model and training approach offer valuable insights for health administrators and leaders.