1998 American Urological Association Gallup Survey: Changes in physician practice patterns, treatment of ureteral stones and impact of managed care

Purpose: The American Urological Association first commissioned the Gallup Organization to conduct a study to assess urologist practice patterns in 1992. We present the results of the seventh consecutive Gallup Survey performed for the Association. Materials and Methods: A random sample of 537 American urologists who completed urological residency and practiced at least 20 hours weekly in 1997 were interviewed by telephone in March 1998. Major topic areas included general demographics, practice patterns, treatment of ureteral Stones and experience with managed care. Results: Demographic trends indicated a significant decrease in average urologist age from 49.4 years in 1992 to 46.8 in 1998. Of the urologists 99% reported that they treat ureteral stones. Managed care had an increasingly larger role in most practices, particularly in the western United States, where 73% of urologists reported that they contract with a Medicare health maintenance organization. Conclusions: The average age of practicing urologists significantly decreased, which may be due to an increasing number of urologists retiring at an earlier age, although this finding is not clear. Nearly all urologists treated ureteral stones with considerable consistency. Finally, managed care appeared to have a major impact on most urologists throughout the United States.