As the U.S. physician workforce ages, health care organizations are under increasing pressure to address the potential risks associated with cognitive and physical decline in late-career physicians (LCPs), often defined as those 65 and older. In a new paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, co-author Michelle Mello, JD, PhD—a professor of law and of health policy—sheds light on the policies that some hospitals have implemented to screen aging physicians. The paper also offers recommendations to improve fairness, effectiveness, and physician acceptance of these programs.

Ensuring Safe Practice by Late Career Physicians: Institutional Policies and Implementation Experiences examines the approaches taken by 29 U.S. health care institutions, most of which mandate screening assessments once physicians reach a specific age, typically around 70. Although older physicians bring extensive clinical experience to patient care, they are at heightened risk for cognitive and sensory decline, as well as diminished knowledge currency and adherence to standards of care, according to the paper. Also, growing evidence indicates that, on average, patients treated by LCPs have worse clinical outcomes and are more likely to file complaints.

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