By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    learn to recognize and treat yeast infections
    Most Commonly Asked Questions About Yeast Infections
    November 17, 2021
    Advanced lung cancer diagnosis systems used by doctors
    Advanced Lung Cancer Diagnosis Systems Used by Doctors
    March 6, 2022
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    June 13, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Chronic Disease Prevention Remains Top Priority
    September 9, 2017
    Worst Editorial of the Week Award
    September 13, 2017
    Are the Uninsured Getting a Free Ride?
    May 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Organizations Slowly Considering Greater Scrutiny of Aging Physicians’ Practice
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Organizations Slowly Considering Greater Scrutiny of Aging Physicians’ Practice
Policy & Law

Organizations Slowly Considering Greater Scrutiny of Aging Physicians’ Practice

MichaelDouglas1
MichaelDouglas1
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Would you attend a 101-year old physician? Should there be a mandatory retirement age for physicians? While that question itself is a little ridiculous, there really has never been careful consideration of the issue. Many, if not most physicians go through their careers sincerely passionate about their work — all the while building the foundation for a very lucrative, happy, and hard-earned retirement. As a physician, I have always shared this scenario as a reasonable goal.

Would you attend a 101-year old physician? Should there be a mandatory retirement age for physicians? While that question itself is a little ridiculous, there really has never been careful consideration of the issue. Many, if not most physicians go through their careers sincerely passionate about their work — all the while building the foundation for a very lucrative, happy, and hard-earned retirement. As a physician, I have always shared this scenario as a reasonable goal. As much as I love what I do, I know that someday I’ll have to “hang up the stethoscope” because I feel that a rewarding life as a public servant leads to a rewarding life in retirement. I accept that, and I look forward to it.

Some physicians find that hard to swallow, and their appreciation for their craft — taken so many years to create and nurture — continues to grow. Why give that up?

Rheumatologist Ephraim Engleman, who will turn 102 in March, said he plans to never quit. One of the nation’s oldest practicing physicians, Engleman drives from his San Mateo home to the sprawling medical campus of the University of California at San Francisco three days a week. There he sees about eight longtime patients per week and spends most of his time directing the Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis, an administrative post he has held since it was created in 1979.

Granted, this physician’s situation is rather rare, but some organizations are looking at other ways scrutinizing elder physicians’ abilities outside of the obvious licensure maintenance requirements. While keeping an active license implies compliance in knowledge among physicians, there is a lack of data that addresses periodic evaluation of cognitive abilities outside of testing medical knowledge. An increasing number of public and private health systems are implementing programs to address this issue — often comparing patient safety under a physician’s care to that of passengers’ safety in airline travel. Perhaps the days of allowing the “kindly old doctor” to continue to practice out of a sense of fealty and obligation within an organization are on the wane. If an increasing number of physicians are in it for the long haul, for whatever reason, healthcare organizations are now beginning to realize that the obligation should be directed toward patient safety and well being.

More Read

There’s More to HealthCare Than Doctors and Hospitals
How Ebola Spreads, and the Response from Public Health Officials
The Tyranny of Electronic Systems
Can America’s Youth be a Focal Point for Bending Healthcare’s Cost Curve?
A New Kind of Stress Test
 
TAGGED:Physicians
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

FDA Gives Approval for Lap-Band Use With Less Obese Patients

February 17, 2011
Baby care jobs
Public HealthSpecialties

A Baby Has Special Health Care Needs

October 17, 2012
risk management in surgery
Hospital AdministrationPublic Health

Risk-Proofing the Surgical Episode for Patients

October 31, 2014
Image
Policy & Law

Another Surreal Moment in Modern Medicine

March 25, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?