Older docs need annual checks
Older specialist doctors could be subjected to regular health checks and encouraged to undertake only simple procedures, under options being considered to enable a new army of medical practitioners to continue working beyond traditional retirement ages. About a quarter of Australia’s medical workforce is aged over 55 years.
Older specialist doctors could be subjected to regular health checks and encouraged to undertake only simple procedures, under options being considered to enable a new army of medical practitioners to continue working beyond traditional retirement ages.
About a quarter of Australia’s medical workforce is aged over 55 years and an increasing number of doctors are working into their 70s.
Published in the Medical Journal of Australia yesterday (Monday, 7 May 2012), senior Victorian surgeon Associate Professor Bruce Waxman said by 2050, 25% of surgeons would be aged over 65 years.
A draft position statement prepared for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons recommended annual health checks and regular performance reviews for surgeons still working after 65 years of age.
“Some solutions for tackling retention strategies and workplace adaptation processes involve planning a phased withdrawal from operating by reducing the volume and complexity of surgical procedures, no longer participating in the on-call roster, and considering roles in teaching and administration work,” Professor Waxman said.
The Canberra Times reported on a medical journal article by Sydney intensive care specialist, Associate Professor George Skowronski and psychiatrist Associate Professor Carmelle Peisah, which also discussed the challenges faced by older intensive care doctors.
“Ageing practitioners are affected by a number of age-related sensory and neurocognitive changes, including a decline in processing speed, reduced problem-solving ability and fluid intelligence and, impaired hearing and sight, and reduced manual dexterity,” they wrote.
The authors said the wisdom and experience of older doctors was of great value, but work adaptations needed to be considered.
Some of the factors needing to be addressed included “part-time work towards retirement, reduced after hours callouts and shift work, and reduced exposure to acute crisis intervention, with an increased focus on mentoring, teaching, administration and research.”
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