Educational interventions to improve practice of nonspecialty physicians who are identified in need by peer review.

This article reports on the peer review process of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the licensing and regulatory authority, and the effect of educational interventions on physicians identified to be in need. Since 1980, the college has assessed more than 175 random and targeted nonspecialist physicians each year. A structured remediation process has been employed for those in need. Extensive data files have been maintained by the college. A majority of physicians identified as needing improvement improved and maintained their improved performance. The simple structured interventions employed by the college demonstrate an educational intervention that produces practice improvement.