Work time estimates for ophthalmic diagnoses and procedures. Results from the Eye Care Workforce Study.

OBJECTIVE

To provide estimates of patient-level annual ophthalmologist work times for the care of common ophthalmic conditions and patient-level global surgical care time for common or important ophthalmic procedures.

METHODS

A random sample of the domestic membership (excluding members-in-training) of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, stratified by self-designated practice concentration, was surveyed in 1994 to provide estimates of work times for common ophthalmic services.

RESULTS

Comprehensive and subspecialty-specific results were obtained for ophthalmic diagnoses, services, and surgical procedures. For ophthalmic diagnoses and services, initial and follow-up visit work times are reported for comprehensive and subspecialty ophthalmologists separately. For common surgical procedures, aggregate results based on comprehensive and subspecialist survey responses are reported.

CONCLUSIONS

These ophthalmology-specific survey results can be used for a variety of purposes, including practice management, "benchmarking," health plan administration and national workforce planning. Such surveys should be repeated as techniques and practice patterns change over time.