Combating Medical Error
Combating Medical Error
- Continuing competence program prevents patient harm
The Podiatric Medical Board of California (PMBC) is the only doctor-licensing board in the U.S. to date to implement Continuing Competence requirements over and above continuing education hours. At each two-year renewal since 1999, PMBC has required Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) to certify compliance with at least one peer-reviewed indicator that they have maintained practical, clinical competence since initial licensure:
http://www.pmbc.ca.gov/forms_pubs/cmecert.pdf
BPM’s Continuing Competence and other licensing standards have contributed to a unique, long-term longitudinal decline in complaints:
http://www.pmbc.ca.gov/forms_pubs/compdata.pdf
Given the history of medical self-regulation, state requirements for maintaining minimum medical skill (in return for extending the license to practice) remain controversial despite:
- evidence that continuing education alone fails to maintain competence
- high rates of medical error
- increasing patient complaints
With the support of the podiatric medical profession, PMBC's strategic plan remains focused on preventing patient harm as a priority no less important than reacting to it after the fact through enforcing doctor discipline when injury does occur.
For an overview of the hot debate, please see What They Say About Continuing Competence.
