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Subspecialty Distributions of Ophthalmologists in the Workforce

Subspecialty Distributions of Ophthalmologists in the Workforce ObjectiveTo describe the distribution of the supply and requirements for subspecialty ophthalmologists.MethodsEstimates from the Eye Care Workforce Study were used to provide subspecialty-based assessments of the supply and public health need, as well as market demand, for care provided by subspecialists. Reconciliation with the boundary models (optometry first, ophthalmology first) of the Eye Care Workforce Study and current market status also were performed.ResultsWhether subspecialists are in excess depends first on which boundary model most closely approximates the current market conditions. Under an optometry-first model, 70% of all ophthalmologists are in excess, although subspecialists (39%) are relatively less in excess than comprehensive ophthalmologists (91% excess). Under an ophthalmology-first model, no ophthalmologists would be in excess. Extrapolating from current market conditions, a slight excess of ophthalmologists exists, probably proportional across subspecialists and comprehensive ophthalmologists. Future growth in the ophthalmologist supply will be almost entirely among subspecialists.ConclusionUnder current market conditions, substantial excesses in subspecialist ophthalmologists are likely to develop and grow worse over time, given current training levels.THE EYE Care Workforce Study by RAND, Santa Monica, Calif, for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) indicates that an excess of eye care providers relative to current market demand and public health need exists.The conclusions are similar to those of other analyses using population-to-staffing ratios of managed care plansand the results of the Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee.However, the RAND study clearly indicates that the relative supply to demand of ophthalmologists depends heavily on how the eye care system is structured. When ophthalmologists provide primary eye care, as well as secondary and tertiary eye care, there is no excess of ophthalmologists, while optometrists are in excess. Alternatively, if optometrists provide the bulk of primary eye care, less than half of the current number of ophthalmologists would be required to meet market demand for or utilization of eye care services.Within each of these scenarios, however, the distribution of the types of ophthalmologists would potentially differ to a large degree. The Eye Care Workforce Study provides estimates of the requirements and the supply of eye care providers that are divided into recognized subspecialty areas. Thus, to provide a fuller understanding of the eye care workforce situation, in general and in relation to the 2 boundary models (ophthalmology first or optometry first), this article presents the findings of the Eye Care Workforce Study by ophthalmic subspecialty.METHODSThe Eye Care Workforce method has been described.As part of the organization of the Eye Care Workforce Study, 4 global areas of care were described: (1) problem-oriented, or medical and surgical, care; (2) rehabilitative care; (3) elective care (such as refractive surgery); and (4) preventive, or well-eye, care. Within the problem-oriented and rehabilitative areas, the thousands of applicable codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revisionand Current Procedural Terminology,fourth edition,codes were organized into 97 groups, which were organized into 15 categories. The categories and groups were structured to represent identifiable subspecialty areas. The groups were reviewed by the AAO Coding Committee, the Eye Care Workforce Study Advisory Committee, and professional staff at the AAO. Thus, the estimates of the requirements (market demand and public health need) are organized according to the 15 categories.The supply of ophthalmologists was accessed using the membership database of the AAO. Not only are most ophthalmologists members of AAO, but comparison of the numbers of ophthalmologists obtained from the membership data file with the estimates of the American Medical Association's Physician Masterfile (in the Area Resources File of the US Census Bureau) revealed similar numbers of ophthalmologists.Subspecialty identification was drawn from the self-identified primary area of practice concentration listed by the membership. When no primary area of concentration was listed, the physician was deemed to be a general or comprehensive ophthalmologist. When an ophthalmologist indicated "cataract" as the primary area of concentration, we noted this, although no cataract subspecialty is acknowledged by the AAO or the American Board of Medical Specialties. In the areas of neuro-ophthalmology and uveitis, however, the supply includes ophthalmologists who identified a primary or secondary area of concentration in that field.Clearly, the organization of the variety of eye care conditions and services provided and the supply of ophthalmologists could be constructed in alternative ways. However, the input of those involved in the study, including that of the AAO and the Advisory Board, led us to use the current structure. (For additional details about the organization of the requirements category, see the full report of the Eye Care Workforce Study in which the 97 groups are listed.)The 2 boundary models used for the analyses, optometry first and ophthalmology first, refer to the structure of the health care system used to provide eye care services. Under an optometry-first model, all care that optometrists are legally entitled to provide, exclusive of laser or incisional surgery, are provided by optometrists preferentially. Thus, optometrists in all states are granted full therapeutic privileges, consonant with the widest extant privileges. Ophthalmologists are used to provide only care that optometrists could not perform, mainly laser and incisional surgery. In this boundary model, optometrists are given preference over comprehensive ophthalmologists not only in preventive care, but also in primary medical eye care. Conversely, under an ophthalmology-first model, ophthalmologists provide all the care that they can provide before any care is allocated to optometrists.Since neither an optometry-first nor ophthalmology-first model is a close analogy to the current situation, and neither model is likely to occur in the near future, we also used a third model combining both types of providers that is based on an analysis by Abt Associates Inc, Cambridge, Mass, for the AAO about the allocation of services between optometrists and ophthalmologists in states with therapeutic privileges for optometrists.Extrapolating the care allocation nationally provides one estimate of likely distributions of care among different types of providers. In all of the models, eye care provided by primary care physicians and other physicians also is included and projected forward (but not included in the present article). Additional information on these models is provided in the original Eye Care Workforce Study publications.RESULTSTable 1gives the full-time equivalent (FTE) supply of ophthalmologists by subspecialty. The use of FTEs is meant to provide an estimate of the work units available; it is not necessarily equivalent to the number of people. Unless otherwise indicated in the database of the AAO, all individuals were noted to be available for 1 FTE's worth of work. Table 2gives the public health need for eye care segregated by medical care and surgical procedure care by FTEs for the 15 categories. Public health need represents the care that would be consumed if every person who might benefit from eye care actually received such care. Demand reflects current utilization levels.Table 3gives similar data for current market demand for eye care services, again organized by the 15 categories. Table 4gives population-based ratios based on our data for the number of subspecialist ophthalmologists per 1 million population if subspecialists were to provide all care across the 15 categories.Table 1. Supply of Ophthalmologists by Subspecialty Type in 1994*See table graphicTable 2. Public Health Need for Medical and Surgical Care by Subspecialty Category in 1994*See table graphicTable 3. Current Market Demand for Medical and Surgical Care by Subspecialty Category in 1994*See table graphicTable 4. Population Ratios of Subspecialists per 1 Million Population by Public Health Need and Market Demand in 1994See table graphicTable 5gives the results that would occur under the optometry-first model (in which optometrists are first allocated all care that they are allowed to provide by law). The net results of an optometry-first model based on current utilization levels show that 3490 subspecialist ophthalmologists are demanded, leaving 2244 (39.1%) subspecialists in excess. For comprehensive ophthalmologists, 7604 (91%) are in excess under the demand estimate in the optometry-first model. This would result in an excess of 9828 ophthalmologists to meet the market demand for eye care, with fewer than 4300 ophthalmologists in demand. Under an optometry-first model, virtually no comprehensive ophthalmologists would be demanded.Table 5. Optometry-First Model of FTE Balance by Subspecialty in 1994*See table graphicIn contrast, Table 6gives the results under an ophthalmology-first model in which ophthalmologists provide all primary and specialty care. In such a situation, no ophthalmologists would be in excess. Indeed, there would be additional work for more than 5000 more ophthalmologists, if all optometrists were to be replaced.Table 6. Ophthalmology-First Model AllocationsSee table graphicTable 7provides an estimate of the demand and need for care if the current market share or allocations in therapeutic states existed nationwide.Table 7. Current Market Conditions Using Abt Associates Data on Market Allocation Between Ophthalmologists and Optometrists*See table graphicThe Abt Associates Inc study for the AAO of the market segments controlled by ophthalmology and optometry shows that ophthalmologists provide the bulk of medical and surgical care, while optometrists provide more preventive and well-eye care.Projecting the results nationally, almost 12000 ophthalmologist FTEs are demanded for all 4 areas of care. Under this scenario, the excess of ophthalmologists is split proportionally among subspecialists and comprehensive ophthalmologists.Finally, Table 8gives the projection of supply to public health need for the year 2000 and the year 2010 under an optometry-first model. Every subspecialty except strabismus would be in excess in 2010. When compared with the likely demand in 2010, everysubspecialty would be in excess if current supply trends continued. However, under an ophthalmology-first model for public health need, there would be no excess.Table 8. Future Year Balances Under an Optometry-First Model for Public Health Need*See table graphicTable 8clearly shows that the growth in the supply of ophthalmologists will be almost entirely in the supply of subspecialists. The 8347 generalists FTEs of today will be essentially unchanged (8220 FTEs) in 2000 and 2010 (8371 FTEs). In contrast, the supply of subspecialists will grow from 5744 FTEs (including cataract as a subspecialty) to 6598 FTEs in 2000 and 7565 FTEs in 2010. The growth occurs despite a decrease of 422 FTEs among subspecialists who designate cataract as their subspecialty. Excluding cataracts as a subspecialty would mean that the supply of subspecialists would increase 64% (from 3478 FTEs to 5721 FTEs in 2010).COMMENTThe results of this analysis further reinforce the central findings of the Eye Care Workforce Study. First, unless the practice efficiency and practice patterns of optometrists are substantially different from those of ophthalmologists (less efficient or less thorough provision of substantial amounts of care not included within the ophthalmic approach to patient care), an excess of eye care providers exists. When optometrists and ophthalmologists differentiate their practices and reduce the overlap of services provided, less of an excess may exist. Second, the allocation of the excess depends on the structure for provision of care that is used. In other words, ophthalmologists as a group may be in excess or not, depending on how close to either boundary model (optometry first or ophthalmology first) the current market lies and on what the future market will be like. Third, as indicated in this article, the relative balance between comprehensive and subspecialty ophthalmologists also depends on the existing structure for eye care provision.In contrast, the subspecialty implications for fellowship training programs are clear-cut. Table 9compares the subspecialist supply with the public health need in the 2000-2010 period without allocation to either boundary model. For all subspecialists to be fully employed, not only must our society provide health care to everyone who needs it (which is the underlying assumption of public health need requirements), but also comprehensive ophthalmologists and optometrists must provide no more than the specified proportions of care within each subspecialty category. Thus, for example, if comprehensive ophthalmologists and optometrists were to provide more than 50% of the retina-oriented care in the year 2000 or 43% in the year 2010, then retina subspecialists would be in excess. For glaucoma, if more than 75% of the care is provided by comprehensive ophthalmologists or optometrists, then an excess would exist. Again, the excess would be even more marked if current utilization patterns rather than public health need were to form the basis for estimates. Indeed, with anecdotal evidence of decreased utilization in managed care systems, the likely excess will only grow with the growing use of managed care systems.Table 9. Future Year Balances by Public Health Need by Subspecialty Area*See table graphicOne important finding is that the supply of subspecialists for the recognized subspecialties, such as cornea, glaucoma, and retina, continues to grow in absolute terms and relative to the supply-to-need ratio. As such, if fellowship training programs are not curtailed, the supply of subspecialists will grow faster than the public health need for care within the care categories provided by the subspecialty-trained ophthalmologist. Whether this is desirable depends on one's view of care and empirical data about cost, cost-effectiveness, and quality of care.These findings thus indicate that the growing subspecialization of ophthalmology will continue in the absence of changes in fellowship training programs. There will be a 64% increase in the number of subspecialty ophthalmologists if current training patterns hold to 2010.This degree of increase far outpaces the expected population growth during this time and the increase in the need or demand for eye care. Furthermore, the FTE supply of comprehensive ophthalmologists will not increase but will remain steady, thereby decreasing relative to population ratios.Perhaps the most important finding of this analysis, however, is the dependency of the workforce balance and the nature of that balance within the subspecialties on the structure of the health care or eye care system that is in place. We thus provide this analysis for planning and for discussion of desirable characteristics of an eye care system.PPLeeCAJacksonDARellesEstimating Eye Care Provider Supply and Workforce Requirements.Santa Monica, Calif: RAND; 1995. Publication MR-516-AAO.PPLeeCAJacksonDARellesEye care workforce supply and requirements.Ophthalmology.1995;102:1964-1972.JWienerForecasting the effects of health reform on US physician workforce requirements: evidence from HMO staffing patterns.JAMA.1994;272:222-230.United States Graduate Medical Education National Advisory CommitteeReport of the Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee to the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.Washington, DC: Dept of Health and Human Services; 1981. DHHS publications 81-651, 81-652, 81-653, 81-654, 81-655, 81-656, and 81-657.World Health OrganizationInternational Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9).Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1977.American Medical AssociationCPT: Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology, 1994.4th ed. Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1993.Abt Associates IncComparison of Ophthalmology-Optometry Medicare Volumes and Charges in States With and Without TPA Laws (1988-1992).Cambridge, Mass: Abt Associates Inc; 1995.Accepted for publication March 3, 1998.Supported by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, Calif.Corresponding author: Paul P. Lee, MD, JD, Duke Eye Center, Box 3802, Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710 (e-mail: lee00106@mc.duke.edu). http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA Ophthalmology American Medical Association

Subspecialty Distributions of Ophthalmologists in the Workforce

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Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright 1998 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use.
ISSN
2168-6165
eISSN
2168-6173
DOI
10.1001/archopht.116.7.917
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe the distribution of the supply and requirements for subspecialty ophthalmologists.MethodsEstimates from the Eye Care Workforce Study were used to provide subspecialty-based assessments of the supply and public health need, as well as market demand, for care provided by subspecialists. Reconciliation with the boundary models (optometry first, ophthalmology first) of the Eye Care Workforce Study and current market status also were performed.ResultsWhether subspecialists are in excess depends first on which boundary model most closely approximates the current market conditions. Under an optometry-first model, 70% of all ophthalmologists are in excess, although subspecialists (39%) are relatively less in excess than comprehensive ophthalmologists (91% excess). Under an ophthalmology-first model, no ophthalmologists would be in excess. Extrapolating from current market conditions, a slight excess of ophthalmologists exists, probably proportional across subspecialists and comprehensive ophthalmologists. Future growth in the ophthalmologist supply will be almost entirely among subspecialists.ConclusionUnder current market conditions, substantial excesses in subspecialist ophthalmologists are likely to develop and grow worse over time, given current training levels.THE EYE Care Workforce Study by RAND, Santa Monica, Calif, for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) indicates that an excess of eye care providers relative to current market demand and public health need exists.The conclusions are similar to those of other analyses using population-to-staffing ratios of managed care plansand the results of the Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee.However, the RAND study clearly indicates that the relative supply to demand of ophthalmologists depends heavily on how the eye care system is structured. When ophthalmologists provide primary eye care, as well as secondary and tertiary eye care, there is no excess of ophthalmologists, while optometrists are in excess. Alternatively, if optometrists provide the bulk of primary eye care, less than half of the current number of ophthalmologists would be required to meet market demand for or utilization of eye care services.Within each of these scenarios, however, the distribution of the types of ophthalmologists would potentially differ to a large degree. The Eye Care Workforce Study provides estimates of the requirements and the supply of eye care providers that are divided into recognized subspecialty areas. Thus, to provide a fuller understanding of the eye care workforce situation, in general and in relation to the 2 boundary models (ophthalmology first or optometry first), this article presents the findings of the Eye Care Workforce Study by ophthalmic subspecialty.METHODSThe Eye Care Workforce method has been described.As part of the organization of the Eye Care Workforce Study, 4 global areas of care were described: (1) problem-oriented, or medical and surgical, care; (2) rehabilitative care; (3) elective care (such as refractive surgery); and (4) preventive, or well-eye, care. Within the problem-oriented and rehabilitative areas, the thousands of applicable codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revisionand Current Procedural Terminology,fourth edition,codes were organized into 97 groups, which were organized into 15 categories. The categories and groups were structured to represent identifiable subspecialty areas. The groups were reviewed by the AAO Coding Committee, the Eye Care Workforce Study Advisory Committee, and professional staff at the AAO. Thus, the estimates of the requirements (market demand and public health need) are organized according to the 15 categories.The supply of ophthalmologists was accessed using the membership database of the AAO. Not only are most ophthalmologists members of AAO, but comparison of the numbers of ophthalmologists obtained from the membership data file with the estimates of the American Medical Association's Physician Masterfile (in the Area Resources File of the US Census Bureau) revealed similar numbers of ophthalmologists.Subspecialty identification was drawn from the self-identified primary area of practice concentration listed by the membership. When no primary area of concentration was listed, the physician was deemed to be a general or comprehensive ophthalmologist. When an ophthalmologist indicated "cataract" as the primary area of concentration, we noted this, although no cataract subspecialty is acknowledged by the AAO or the American Board of Medical Specialties. In the areas of neuro-ophthalmology and uveitis, however, the supply includes ophthalmologists who identified a primary or secondary area of concentration in that field.Clearly, the organization of the variety of eye care conditions and services provided and the supply of ophthalmologists could be constructed in alternative ways. However, the input of those involved in the study, including that of the AAO and the Advisory Board, led us to use the current structure. (For additional details about the organization of the requirements category, see the full report of the Eye Care Workforce Study in which the 97 groups are listed.)The 2 boundary models used for the analyses, optometry first and ophthalmology first, refer to the structure of the health care system used to provide eye care services. Under an optometry-first model, all care that optometrists are legally entitled to provide, exclusive of laser or incisional surgery, are provided by optometrists preferentially. Thus, optometrists in all states are granted full therapeutic privileges, consonant with the widest extant privileges. Ophthalmologists are used to provide only care that optometrists could not perform, mainly laser and incisional surgery. In this boundary model, optometrists are given preference over comprehensive ophthalmologists not only in preventive care, but also in primary medical eye care. Conversely, under an ophthalmology-first model, ophthalmologists provide all the care that they can provide before any care is allocated to optometrists.Since neither an optometry-first nor ophthalmology-first model is a close analogy to the current situation, and neither model is likely to occur in the near future, we also used a third model combining both types of providers that is based on an analysis by Abt Associates Inc, Cambridge, Mass, for the AAO about the allocation of services between optometrists and ophthalmologists in states with therapeutic privileges for optometrists.Extrapolating the care allocation nationally provides one estimate of likely distributions of care among different types of providers. In all of the models, eye care provided by primary care physicians and other physicians also is included and projected forward (but not included in the present article). Additional information on these models is provided in the original Eye Care Workforce Study publications.RESULTSTable 1gives the full-time equivalent (FTE) supply of ophthalmologists by subspecialty. The use of FTEs is meant to provide an estimate of the work units available; it is not necessarily equivalent to the number of people. Unless otherwise indicated in the database of the AAO, all individuals were noted to be available for 1 FTE's worth of work. Table 2gives the public health need for eye care segregated by medical care and surgical procedure care by FTEs for the 15 categories. Public health need represents the care that would be consumed if every person who might benefit from eye care actually received such care. Demand reflects current utilization levels.Table 3gives similar data for current market demand for eye care services, again organized by the 15 categories. Table 4gives population-based ratios based on our data for the number of subspecialist ophthalmologists per 1 million population if subspecialists were to provide all care across the 15 categories.Table 1. Supply of Ophthalmologists by Subspecialty Type in 1994*See table graphicTable 2. Public Health Need for Medical and Surgical Care by Subspecialty Category in 1994*See table graphicTable 3. Current Market Demand for Medical and Surgical Care by Subspecialty Category in 1994*See table graphicTable 4. Population Ratios of Subspecialists per 1 Million Population by Public Health Need and Market Demand in 1994See table graphicTable 5gives the results that would occur under the optometry-first model (in which optometrists are first allocated all care that they are allowed to provide by law). The net results of an optometry-first model based on current utilization levels show that 3490 subspecialist ophthalmologists are demanded, leaving 2244 (39.1%) subspecialists in excess. For comprehensive ophthalmologists, 7604 (91%) are in excess under the demand estimate in the optometry-first model. This would result in an excess of 9828 ophthalmologists to meet the market demand for eye care, with fewer than 4300 ophthalmologists in demand. Under an optometry-first model, virtually no comprehensive ophthalmologists would be demanded.Table 5. Optometry-First Model of FTE Balance by Subspecialty in 1994*See table graphicIn contrast, Table 6gives the results under an ophthalmology-first model in which ophthalmologists provide all primary and specialty care. In such a situation, no ophthalmologists would be in excess. Indeed, there would be additional work for more than 5000 more ophthalmologists, if all optometrists were to be replaced.Table 6. Ophthalmology-First Model AllocationsSee table graphicTable 7provides an estimate of the demand and need for care if the current market share or allocations in therapeutic states existed nationwide.Table 7. Current Market Conditions Using Abt Associates Data on Market Allocation Between Ophthalmologists and Optometrists*See table graphicThe Abt Associates Inc study for the AAO of the market segments controlled by ophthalmology and optometry shows that ophthalmologists provide the bulk of medical and surgical care, while optometrists provide more preventive and well-eye care.Projecting the results nationally, almost 12000 ophthalmologist FTEs are demanded for all 4 areas of care. Under this scenario, the excess of ophthalmologists is split proportionally among subspecialists and comprehensive ophthalmologists.Finally, Table 8gives the projection of supply to public health need for the year 2000 and the year 2010 under an optometry-first model. Every subspecialty except strabismus would be in excess in 2010. When compared with the likely demand in 2010, everysubspecialty would be in excess if current supply trends continued. However, under an ophthalmology-first model for public health need, there would be no excess.Table 8. Future Year Balances Under an Optometry-First Model for Public Health Need*See table graphicTable 8clearly shows that the growth in the supply of ophthalmologists will be almost entirely in the supply of subspecialists. The 8347 generalists FTEs of today will be essentially unchanged (8220 FTEs) in 2000 and 2010 (8371 FTEs). In contrast, the supply of subspecialists will grow from 5744 FTEs (including cataract as a subspecialty) to 6598 FTEs in 2000 and 7565 FTEs in 2010. The growth occurs despite a decrease of 422 FTEs among subspecialists who designate cataract as their subspecialty. Excluding cataracts as a subspecialty would mean that the supply of subspecialists would increase 64% (from 3478 FTEs to 5721 FTEs in 2010).COMMENTThe results of this analysis further reinforce the central findings of the Eye Care Workforce Study. First, unless the practice efficiency and practice patterns of optometrists are substantially different from those of ophthalmologists (less efficient or less thorough provision of substantial amounts of care not included within the ophthalmic approach to patient care), an excess of eye care providers exists. When optometrists and ophthalmologists differentiate their practices and reduce the overlap of services provided, less of an excess may exist. Second, the allocation of the excess depends on the structure for provision of care that is used. In other words, ophthalmologists as a group may be in excess or not, depending on how close to either boundary model (optometry first or ophthalmology first) the current market lies and on what the future market will be like. Third, as indicated in this article, the relative balance between comprehensive and subspecialty ophthalmologists also depends on the existing structure for eye care provision.In contrast, the subspecialty implications for fellowship training programs are clear-cut. Table 9compares the subspecialist supply with the public health need in the 2000-2010 period without allocation to either boundary model. For all subspecialists to be fully employed, not only must our society provide health care to everyone who needs it (which is the underlying assumption of public health need requirements), but also comprehensive ophthalmologists and optometrists must provide no more than the specified proportions of care within each subspecialty category. Thus, for example, if comprehensive ophthalmologists and optometrists were to provide more than 50% of the retina-oriented care in the year 2000 or 43% in the year 2010, then retina subspecialists would be in excess. For glaucoma, if more than 75% of the care is provided by comprehensive ophthalmologists or optometrists, then an excess would exist. Again, the excess would be even more marked if current utilization patterns rather than public health need were to form the basis for estimates. Indeed, with anecdotal evidence of decreased utilization in managed care systems, the likely excess will only grow with the growing use of managed care systems.Table 9. Future Year Balances by Public Health Need by Subspecialty Area*See table graphicOne important finding is that the supply of subspecialists for the recognized subspecialties, such as cornea, glaucoma, and retina, continues to grow in absolute terms and relative to the supply-to-need ratio. As such, if fellowship training programs are not curtailed, the supply of subspecialists will grow faster than the public health need for care within the care categories provided by the subspecialty-trained ophthalmologist. Whether this is desirable depends on one's view of care and empirical data about cost, cost-effectiveness, and quality of care.These findings thus indicate that the growing subspecialization of ophthalmology will continue in the absence of changes in fellowship training programs. There will be a 64% increase in the number of subspecialty ophthalmologists if current training patterns hold to 2010.This degree of increase far outpaces the expected population growth during this time and the increase in the need or demand for eye care. Furthermore, the FTE supply of comprehensive ophthalmologists will not increase but will remain steady, thereby decreasing relative to population ratios.Perhaps the most important finding of this analysis, however, is the dependency of the workforce balance and the nature of that balance within the subspecialties on the structure of the health care or eye care system that is in place. We thus provide this analysis for planning and for discussion of desirable characteristics of an eye care system.PPLeeCAJacksonDARellesEstimating Eye Care Provider Supply and Workforce Requirements.Santa Monica, Calif: RAND; 1995. Publication MR-516-AAO.PPLeeCAJacksonDARellesEye care workforce supply and requirements.Ophthalmology.1995;102:1964-1972.JWienerForecasting the effects of health reform on US physician workforce requirements: evidence from HMO staffing patterns.JAMA.1994;272:222-230.United States Graduate Medical Education National Advisory CommitteeReport of the Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee to the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.Washington, DC: Dept of Health and Human Services; 1981. DHHS publications 81-651, 81-652, 81-653, 81-654, 81-655, 81-656, and 81-657.World Health OrganizationInternational Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9).Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1977.American Medical AssociationCPT: Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology, 1994.4th ed. Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1993.Abt Associates IncComparison of Ophthalmology-Optometry Medicare Volumes and Charges in States With and Without TPA Laws (1988-1992).Cambridge, Mass: Abt Associates Inc; 1995.Accepted for publication March 3, 1998.Supported by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, Calif.Corresponding author: Paul P. Lee, MD, JD, Duke Eye Center, Box 3802, Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710 (e-mail: lee00106@mc.duke.edu).

Journal

JAMA OphthalmologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: Jul 1, 1998

There are no references for this article.