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.