Patient Experience Journal (Nov 2014)
Beyond credentialing in physician selection: Application of an instrument that measures behavioral aptitude
Abstract
This article explores the idea that the assessment of candidates for the role of physician caregiver can be enhanced by evaluating their inter-personal and behavioral aptitude as well as their clinical skills. The objective of this work was to determine whether results of a structured interview correlate to performance ratings for physicians. Two data sets were collected: a structured aptitude assessment for physicians (the Physician Interview) and job performance data for physicians. Analysis of performance data allowed categorization of the physicians into three groups: top performers, contrast performers, and neither. The two data sets were then analyzed to assess the correlation between a physician’s job performance and score on the Physician Interview. The research was conducted at a multi-site, cancer care hospital system. Sixty-three physicians were nominated for inclusion. Nineteen physicians met the criteria as top performers, twenty-three as contrast performers. Twenty-one physicians were excluded, as they did not meet the criteria. Results suggest that applying the structured Physician Interview as a standard step in the selection process can significantly increase the likelihood of identifying top-performing and contrast-performing physicians before they are hired.
