Later in Career Surgeon Performance Assessment: Why, When, What, and by Whom

The average age of practicing surgeons is increasing, consistent with the overall population; one third of Americans are over 55 years of age. Aging is clearly associated with varying loss of skills, yet there are no age-based state or federal requirements for professional skill assessment; or age-specific criteria for board certification, recertification, or retirement. Capability based policies are preferred to age based criteria (3) but very few organizations have such policies in place.

A Delphi method study was utilized to answer: When should a surgeon's performance be assessed? If mandatory, then at what age? If adverse events triggered, then what events? What should be assessed? By whom? And, who determines the result-based actions? A systematic literature review indicated institutional stakeholders. On the basis of this a 20-member expert panel was created drawing from 13 US pediatric institutions: orthopaedic surgical department-division chiefs (14), children's hospital general counsel (3), surgical chief responsible for hospital bylaws-medical peer review (1), OR nursing managers (2). Three rounds of iterative questionnaires were utilized.

A 100% response rate was achieved. Consensus supported recommendations included: Mandatory assessments should start at the age of 65 years, after a medical disability, and or at the request of other health care professionals. Assessments should include criteria for behavioral health, mental capacity, physical health, surgical performance, 360 human resource reviews, and surgical adverse events. Assessments should be performed by an external group with validated tools and reviewed by the department and overall surgeon-in-chief. The final decisions for an action plan based on results should be made by departmental and overall surgeon-in-chief.

Our expert panel Delphi method study recognized aging is a risk factor in performance and recommended surgeon assessments should be automatically triggered by the age of 65 years, negative health events, or serious performance concerns. Assessments should be multifaceted, fair, reliable with minimal bias, and performed by an external professional group. Decisions should be managed by departmental and surgical chiefs.

Level V.