title: 1999 American Urological Association Gallup Survey: changes in physician practice patterns, treatment of incontinence and bladder cancer, and impact of managed care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Health Policy Survey and Research Committee of the American Urological Association and the Gallup Organization have performed a yearly survey of American urologists since 1992 to assess practice patterns. The results of the 1999 survey are presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 503 urologists was interviewed in February and March 1999. Major content areas were physician practice patterns, the impact of managed care, and the treatment of pediatric patients, prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia, female incontinence and bladder cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average urologist is 46.8 years old, certified by the American Board of Urology, sees 78 patients and performs 3.1 major surgical procedures weekly, refers moderate and complex pediatric procedures to specialists, and receives 40.6% of practice income from managed care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an era when large group practices seem to be the norm remarkably 32% of urologists remain in solo practice. There has been a shift in where urologists spend their time, that is more in the office and less in the operating room. Minor and major open surgical procedures increased from 12.4 weekly to 16.4 and 2.9 to 3.1 in 1995 and 1999, respectively. Most urologists are comfortable treating straightforward pediatric problems such as cryptorchidism but refer more complex problems to pediatric urologists. Managed care represents an ever increasing proportion of urologist practice income, while office expenses continue to increase.
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Survey and Research Committee, American Urological Association, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Holtgrewe
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Blute
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Nellans
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Painter
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Naslund
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gormley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blizzard
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fenninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014572:Urology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data