What the gastroenterologist does all day. A survey of a state society's practice

Members of a state society of gastroenterologist collected information about their pattern of practice. Twenty-two of the 41 members voluntarily kept a list of 25 sequential new patients seen during the spring of 1973. Five hundred and fory-nine diagnoses were accumulated; 369 (67%) of these diagnoses were gastroenterological. The five most common gastroenterological diagnoses were: functional disorder, duodenal ulcer, hiatus hernia, biliary tract disease, and esophagitis. The five most common over-all diagnostic areas were: functional disorder, cardiovascular disease, "other" nongastroenterological diagnoses (including obesity), duodenal ulcer, and endocrine malfunction. Geographically dispersed gastroenterologists in Virginia make more than one-half of their primary diagnoses in the area of their subspecialty interest. The primary gastroenterological problems seen are "upper gut" lesions and biliary tract disease. These observations may be of value in planning education, training, or research activities, especially if verified by a broader sample of gastroenterological practitioners.