Their fear (for their own professional standing and income stream) is justified, but the objections to measuring performance are special pleading.
1) "Each patient is unique" just like "each student is unique"...but we still give standardized tests (to the grumbling of below-average teachers and administrators)
2) If the sample size is too small because the disease is rare, there may be a genuine measurement problem. If the doctor or hospital's sample size is too small but the illness is common, then they should be referring those patients to providers/facilities with the requisite experience levels.
1) "Each patient is unique" just like "each student is unique"...but we still give standardized tests (to the grumbling of below-average teachers and administrators)
2) If the sample size is too small because the disease is rare, there may be a genuine measurement problem. If the doctor or hospital's sample size is too small but the illness is common, then they should be referring those patients to providers/facilities with the requisite experience levels.