Optometric practice patterns: British Columbia.

A government task force on vision care delivery in British Columbia studied the practice patterns of optometrists in that province. Their aim is to develop a coordinated system of vision care. A questionnaire was mailed to all optometrists in the province. The 84% response rate, with representative regional distribution, gave information on professional time spent in various activities, the use of assistants, indications of attitude toward and participation in community activities, and satellite practices. The information is compared with other studies and inferences are made in relation to workload and the efficient allocation of time. Special note is made of political and other factors that must be rationalized in order to provide a coordinates system of vision care which utilizes the expertise of optometrists in an optimal manner.