Peer review
ISSUE SUMMARY
Formative resident evaluations are conducted semi-annually to assess a residents’ competency over multiple indicators. These evaluations are intended as educational and training tools to facilitate increased knowledge and higher levels of performance in matters related to patient care. The evaluations are indicative of a single point-in-time and upon completion of a residency program, the formative evaluations received during training are no longer relevant and may even detail deficiencies that no longer exist.
At its 2009 Annual Meeting, the American Medical Association adopted H375.962 which includes a definition of “peer review” and its purpose. The policy–which also details the AMA’s belief that all peer review proceedings, documents and findings should remain confidential and not be subject to discovery within the judicial process–does not include formative resident evaluations in its definition of peer review. Given the importance of faculty candor on formative resident evaluations, the need for residents to obtain objective assessment of their progress and the fact that these evaluations are provided by one physician to another in an effort to improve patient care, resident formative evaluations should be considered “peer review” and provided the same protections thereof.
ADOPTED ACTION OR POLICY
The Kansas Medical Society Executive Committee is directed to study issues associated with problem of protecting formative resident evaluations from inappropriate discoverability. The Executive Committee is directed to report its findings to the KMS Council.
Adopted by the KMS House of Delegates on April 30, 2011.
