Identification and restoration of lapsed skills for primary care providers

Objective: Individualized educational programs based upon structured comprehensive evaluations have the highest opportunity for success in addressing the needs of physicians with lapsed skills. The purpose of this article is to describe the Physician Prescribed Educational Program (PPEP), an integrated series of programs that incorporate a formalized, structured evaluation strategy. Methods: The PPEP is structured to determine: 1)The presence of deficits which are amenable to educational remediation, 2) The likelihood that an appropriate educational program can be developed, and 3) The structure of such a program. Results: Of 300 referrals, 100 have received evaluations thus far. A wide range of deficits were addressable, although there were specific exclusions to participation. Conclusions: Administrators and others who wish to undertake these efforts should avail themselves of educational and other resources but should not expect rapid results. With careful planning and execution, these programs can provide appropriate and successful experiences for participants.