Evaluating the competence of physicians in practice: from peer review to performance assessment

Evaluation of physician competence has traditionally been defined by the medical profession largely through standardized tests and board certifying examinations. However, a level of physician evaluation that takes place outside academic medical centers and certifying boards is rapidly developing. This article describes three programs for such physician evaluation: (1) the program of US Healthcare, a national managed health care company; (2) the DEMPAQ--Developing and Evaluating Methods to Promote Ambulatory Care Quality--project, a joint research effort between Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts) and the State of Maryland's (and District of Columbia's) Peer Review Organization (PRO); and (3) a project initiated by the American College of Physicians (ACP) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to assess both medical competence and technical performance in the hospital setting. The authors argue for the need to inform physicians-in-training about the types of evaluation to which they will be subjected over the courses of their careers. In order to further this goal, the authors advocate increased collaboration between leaders in the academic setting and those spearheading these new programs for assessment of physician performance.