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Table 14

Average Number of Patient Contact Hours per Week by Family Physicians, July 2008


    Number of hours
per week in direct,
face-to-face
patient contact
Number of hours
per week in other
patient care tasks
(not face-to-face)
Number of hours
per week in
administrative:
prior authorization
for imaging
Number of hours
per week in
administrative:
prior authorization
for formulary
compliance
Number of hours
per week in
administrative
tasks/other duties
non included above
  N Mean Hours
per Week
Mean Hours
per Week
Mean Hours
per Week
Mean Hours
per Week
Mean Hours
per Week
             
Total Respondents 1,046 35.2 7.78 1.06 1.28 5.64
             
Census Division            
New England 48 32.5 10.69 0.69 1.31 6.02
Middle Atlantic 100 34.0 7.48 1.55 1.34 4.81
East North Central 188 35.0 8.19 1.11 1.44 6.15
West North Central 141 36.0 7.95 0.83 1.28 5.52
South Atlantic 181 37.0 7.60 0.95 1.42 5.70
East South Central 61 39.6 7.96 1.46 1.76 3.88
West South Central 99 39.1 6.81 1.20 1.06 5.03
Mountain 88 32.3 7.35 0.74 1.05 6.96
Pacific 139 30.8 7.37 1.10 0.91 5.89
Type of Practice            
Solo 102 38.2 6.94 1.43 1.89 5.16
Two-Person 56 36.4 9.41 1.51 1.96 4.60
FP Group 357 34.1 8.32 0.93 1.09 6.67
Multispecialty Group 152 33.3 7.37 0.80 1.02 5.36
Location            
Urban 781 33.5 7.59 1.06 1.17 6.17
Rural 265 39.9 8.29 1.08 1.60 4.28
Years out of Residency            
More than 7 years 735 34.6 7.69 1.06 1.18 6.40
7 or Fewer years 318 36.4 7.90 1.05 1.49 4.00
Sex            
Male 660 36.8 7.68 1.10 1.23 6.11
Female 393 32.3 7.88 0.98 1.34 4.91
Physician Age            
Less than 36 Years 243 35.9 7.93 0.98 1.45 4.02
36-45 287 34.0 8.03 0.99 1.25 5.79
46-55 336 35.1 7.89 1.19 1.20 6.54
56-65 160 35.8 6.43 0.99 1.20 6.37
66 or more years 18 36.0 6.38 0.49 0.36 4.46

*Includes only active member respondents of the American Academy of Family Physicians.


Source: American Academy of Family Physicians, Practice Profile I Survey, July 2008.