Physician Experience and Medical Errors

In some professions, performance is both negatively and positively associated with experience and age. Results from a recent study linked increased physician experience with less medical knowledge and worse patient outcomes (JW Emerg Med Mar 16 2005). In a 7-year retrospective case review of patient charts flagged for peer review at an urban tertiary care emergency department in the U.S., investigators examined the association between commission of medical errors and physician experience, age, and sex.

Cases underwent peer review according to the following criteria: death in the ED; in-hospital death within 24 hours of hospital admission from the ED; return visit to the ED within 72 hours of the initial visit with hospital admission; patient…