CURRENT ISSUE
BACK ISSUES
SUBSCRIBE
ADVERTISE
ABOUT JCEHP
FOR AUTHORS
JCEHP AWARD
SEARCH
|
|
Volume 26 (3)
Volume 26, Issue 3, Summer 2006
J Contin Educ Health Prof 2006; 26(3):216-221
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Professional isolation and performance assessment in New Zealand
Ian M. St. George
A b s t r a c t
Introduction: Solo and nonurban practice, nonmembership of a professional group, and
aging are all associated with underperformance and may be indicators of professional isolation.
Although it may lead to underperformance in physicians, there are no clear measures
to assess professional isolation.
Methods: By mailed questionnaire, experienced performance assessors were asked to list
markers of professional isolation.
Results: A set of criteria and descriptors for professional isolation was generated, and
included personality; solo practice; poor colleague relationships; outlier practice; MOPS or
CPD failure; specialist in only private practice; stress, no relief, complaints, job dissatisfaction;
locum, itinerant or part-time practice; cultural barriers; male gender.
Discussion:The identification of physicians at risk for professional isolation may enable the
prevention of poor performance.
Lessons for Practice
- Although it may lead to underperformance in physicians, there are no clear measures to assess professional isolation.
- Early recognition of a colleague’s professional isolation should enable interventions designed to prevent or rehabilitate physicians’ underperformance.
Key Words: Competence, performance, professional isolation, rural practice
|