Introduction

November 2021 Grand Rounds – Late Career Practitioner Policies – Has the EEOC Effectively “Retired” This Strategy for Addressing Concerns about Older Physicians?

November 2, 2021 - 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (ET)

Late Career Practitioner Policies were developed by numerous hospitals and health systems in the last ten to 15 years to address concerns about declining health, and, in turn, diminished competency, in older physicians.  However, recent activity by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), the federal agency that is tasked with enforcing several federal anti-discrimination statutes, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, has clearly indicated that the agency believes that these policies violate the law.

Join us for November’s installment of Grand Rounds where we will cover in-depth the reasoning underlying Late Career Practitioner Policies, the details of these policies, and the enforcement activity by the EEOC against hospitals that have these policies.  Topics to be discussed include the following (and more!):

  • The research on cognitive and physical decline in older physicians and the potential impact on clinical care.
  • The rationale and stated need for Late Career Practitioner Policies.
  • Case examples of hospitals’ experience with Late Career Practitioner Policies.
  • How Late Career Practitioner Policies interact with federal laws such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • The EEOC’s recent enforcement activity.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:

  • Understand concerns that hospitals and medical staffs have about aging physicians.
  • Articulate the legal risks associated with Late Career Practitioner Policies.
  • Appreciate the options available to hospitals and medical staffs in dealing with clinical competency and health concerns.

Reading Resources

  • Ilene N. Moore, Screening Older Physicians for Cognitive Impairment: Justifiable or Discriminatory? 28 Health Matrix 95, 2018, available at https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1629&context=healthmatrix.
  • EEOC v. Yale New Haven Hosp., Case 3:20-cv-00187-VAB (D. Conn. Feb. 11, 2020), press release available at https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-sues-yale-new-haven-hospital-age-and-disability-discrimination.

Education Credit

Instructions on how to obtain your Continuing Education certificate for audio conferences will be e-mailed to the contact person for your organization at the conclusion of this audio conference.

Category 1 CME

Joint Provider Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and HortySpringer Seminars.  The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CEUs Credit

Other health care professionals are awarded 0.1 continuing education units (CEUs), which is equal to 1 contact hour.

NAMSS Continuing Education Credit

This course has been approved for National Association of Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) continuing education credit and NAMSS hereby awards 1.0 NAMSS continuing education credits for participation in this activity.  Accreditation of this educational content in no way implies endorsement or sponsorship by NAMSS.

HortySpringer Audio Conference Disclaimer

The information presented during an audio conference and any supplementary materials provided to registrants are intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing contained therein is to be considered as the rendering of legal advice for specific cases or circumstances.

No one should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information presented during an audio conference without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer practicing as permitted by applicable laws, regulations or rules of professional conduct. No attorney-client relationship is formed by registration for an audio conference or the use of the supplementary materials.

About Grand Rounds

The Grand Rounds 2021 Audio Conference Series consists of twelve audio conferences spread over the course of the year, with the goal of providing focused, manageable bites of education for Medical Staff leaders and those who support them.

  • Registration includes an MP3 containing the audio conference at no additional charge following each conference.
  • CME credit issued for live conference participation.
  • Register for the full series of 12 monthly audio conferences. More information on how to register will be provided shortly.

Designed for even the busiest hospital and medical staff leaders, registration for the year-long series is a quick and inexpensive way for Medical Staff Officers, members of the Medical Executive Committee, Department Chairs, Chairs of the Credentials and Peer Review Committees, and the Chairs of other key Medical Staff committees to have access to the most up-to-date health care information at their fingertips while obtaining valuable CME credits as well.

Registration

PLEASE NOTE: To help your staff and medical professionals adhere to social distancing guidelines, we will waive the extra line fee for up to 3 additional lines so others in your organization are able to safely listen from their home or office.

Audio Conferences/Grand Rounds Registration: $250 and includes:

      • 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™*
      • 1.0 NAMSS continuing education credit*
      • One MP3 recording to share with your staff throughout the year
      • Three phones lines. You may purchase additional lines for $50/line, per audio conference.

Can’t make the live audio conference? No problem! We offer single MP3 recordings for $250/audio conference.

*Not all audio conferences will be approved for continuing medical education credits.

Download Registration Form

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