2 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U N E 2 0 1 8
The American College of
Surgeons recommends
surgeons undergo volun-
tary and confidential base-
line physical examination
and visual testing for over-
all health assessments
beginning between 65 and
70 years. The ACS also
recommends that sur-
geons voluntarily assess
their neurocognitive func-
tion using online tools and
disclose any concerning
findings due to profession-
al responsibility.
That's a nice thought, but
you don't have to rely on a
sense of duty to ensure
older surgeons are still
able to perform safe surgery. Surgeons have to be credentialed to
operate in your facility and those credentials can be withheld if
there are any concerns about their physical and mental capaci-
ties, points out E. Patchen Dellinger, MD, a professor in the
department of surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle.
His recent report in JAMA Surgery says the debate about how to
best manage aging surgeons takes place against the backdrop of
delayed retirements and changing societal attitudes about the
• DAILY GRIND Find out if surgeons are able to keep up with the
physical demands of surgery and try to help those who can't.
ACS Backs Physical and Visual Screening
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
