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Do physicians spend less time with older patients?
S E Radecki1, R L Kane, D H Solomon
1Multicampus Division of Geriatric Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Physicians spend less time with older patients, with encounter duration varying by specialty. Factors like multiple health problems and diagnostic tests increase visit length, impacting medical education and workforce planning.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Health Services Research
- Medical Practice Management
Background:
- Older adults require more time for communication and examination during physician visits.
- Understanding physician-patient encounter dynamics with the elderly is crucial for healthcare workforce and reimbursement planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze physician time allocation in patient encounters, focusing on the elderly.
- To identify factors influencing physician-patient encounter duration across different medical specialties.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of national surveys on physicians' professional activities.
- Multivariate analysis of factors affecting physician time for ambulatory care.
Main Results:
- Physicians generally spend less time with older patients; encounter duration varies significantly by specialty.
- Internists and cardiologists spend more time per visit than general and family practitioners.
- Factors like multiple health problems, problem severity, and diagnostic testing increase encounter time, while high patient volume and use of physician assistants decrease it.
Conclusions:
- Physician-patient encounter times with the elderly are influenced by specialty and visit characteristics.
- Findings have significant implications for medical education curriculum development and healthcare workforce projections.