Older Physicians Face Growing Scrutiny Over Competency Assessments

The increasing proportion of older physicians in the United States has prompted attention to how their competency is assessed, as only a small number of hospitals have formal screening programs for late-career doctors.

Nearly one in four physicians with an active license in the U.S. is at least 65 years old, according to recent data. Despite this demographic trend, most hospitals have not adopted mandatory evaluations for clinicians as they reach advanced ages.

Some institutions have introduced cognitive screening programs for physicians, often starting at age 70. Yale New Haven Hospital implemented such a program and tested 141 clinicians aged 70 and above between October 2016 and January 2019.

Results from Yale’s program indicated that approximately 12 percent of those tested showed cognitive deficits that could impact job performance. These findings have contributed to ongoing discussions about the need for standardized assessment procedures for older physicians.

What the numbers show

• About 240,000 U.S. physicians aged 65 or older as of recent counts
• Yale New Haven Hospital tested 141 clinicians aged 70+ from 2016 to 2019
• Roughly 12.7% of those tested at Yale had deficits likely to impair independent practice

Analysis of 29 hospital policies on late-career physician screening found that fewer than one in four included explicit criteria for restricting clinical privileges. Most policies also lacked clear processes for appeals or legal representation for affected doctors.

The American Medical Association stated that it would organize groups to draft preliminary guidelines for evaluating the competency of older physicians. The organization noted that the number of physicians aged 65 and older has quadrupled since 1975.

While a small minority of hospitals have established mandatory screening for late-career clinicians, there is no national standard for how or when such assessments should be conducted. The lack of uniformity in policy design and implementation has been identified in recent reviews.

Ongoing efforts by professional associations and hospitals reflect a broader focus on balancing patient safety with fair and consistent evaluation processes for aging physicians. The development of guidelines and clearer standards remains a topic of discussion among healthcare institutions.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.