This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (8)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Related articles  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Ophthalmology, Other  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Paul P. Lee, MD, JD; Dan A. Relles, PhD; Catherine A. Jackson, PhD

Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116:917-920.

Objective  To describe the distribution of the supply and requirements for subspecialty ophthalmologists.

Methods  Estimates 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.

Results  Whether 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.

Conclusion  Under current market conditions, substantial excesses in subspecialist ophthalmologists are likely to develop and grow worse over time, given current training levels.

From RAND, Health Sciences Program, Santa Monica (Drs Lee, Relles, and Jackson) and the Department of Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles (Dr Lee). Dr Lee is now at the Duke Eye Center, Durham, NC.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

RELATED ARTICLES

Work Time Estimates for Ophthalmic Diagnoses and Procedures: Results From the Eye Care Workforce Study
Catherine A. Jackson, Julie A. Brown, Daniel A. Relles, and Paul P. Lee
Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116(7):922-928.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Public Health Need vs Market Demand for Ophthalmologists: What Are Our Priorities?
Eric B. Bass
Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116(7):930.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT  

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Providing Pediatric Subspecialty Care: A Workforce Analysis
Stoddard et al.
Pediatrics 2000;106:1325-1333.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Subspecialties in Ophthalmology
Lee and Lee
Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:288-288.
FULL TEXT  

Public Health Need vs Market Demand for Ophthalmologists: What Are Our Priorities?
Bass
Arch Ophthalmol 1998;116:930-930.
FULL TEXT