WORK TIME ESTIMATES FOR OPHTHALMIC DIAGNOSES AND PROCEDURES - RESULTSFROM THE EYE CARE WORKFORCE STUDY

Objective: To provide estimates of patient-level annual ophthalmologis t work times for the care of common ophthalmic conditions and patient- level global surgical care time for common or important ophthalmic pro cedures. Methods: A random sample of the domestic membership (excludin g members-in-training) of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, strat ified by self-designated practice concentration, was surveyed in 1994 to provide estimates of work times for common ophthalmic services. Res ults: Comprehensive and subspecialty-specific results were obtained fo r ophthalmic diagnoses, services, and surgical procedures. For ophthal mic diagnoses and services, initial and follow-up visit work times are reported for comprehensive and subspecialty-ophthalmologists separate ly. For common surgical procedures, aggregate results based on compreh ensive and subspecialist survey responses are reported. Conclusions: T hese ophthalmology-specific survey results can be used for a variety o f purposes, including practice management,''benchmarking,'' health pla n administration, and national workforce planning. Such surveys should be repeated as techniques and practice patterns change over time.