AVERAGE WORK UP SKILL TIME

(MIX OF LONG & SHORT APPTS) 22 MINUTES/110 IN SAMPLE

LENSOMETRY & AUTO REFRACT 3 MINUTES /47 IN SAMPLE

HISTORY TAKING 6 MINUTES / 110 IN SAMPLE

VISUAL ACUITY 2.5 MINUTES / 110 IN SAMPLE

CONFRONTATION VISUAL FIELDS <1 MINUTE / 38 IN SAMPLE

MOTILITY <1 MINUTE / 36 IN SAMPLE

PUPILS <1 MINUTE / 86 IN SAMPLE

REFRACTION 10 MINUTES / 33 IN SAMPLE

SLIT LAMP & TONOMETRY 2 MINUTES / 76 IN SAMPLE

AUTOMATED VISUAL FIELDS OU 11 MINUTES / 2 IN SAMPLE

OCT OU 4 MINUTES / 4 IN SAMPLE

A SCAN BIOMETRY OU 6 MINUTES / 2 IN SAMPLE

(IOL-M OR LENSTAR)

Note: EMR Data entry is not included since the amount of time can vary based on the EMR system one is using.

These are actual work up times our trainers have tracked as technicians performed their work up skills whilst our trainers were in the exam room observing. To ensure accurate data, the technician did not know their skills were being timed.

The data was gathered from both short and long appointments with some ancillary testing included when indicated. The mix of appointment types was approximately 30% short and 70% long; which reflects most practice’s average daily appointment mix. By including both short and long work ups in this study, it enables practice administrators to set standards for how many patients on average (shorts and longs) the technician should be able to work up per hour.

Managers should keep in mind that some longs may take 10 minutes and others 30 minutes. Our study showed an average work up time of 22 minutes across all work ups short and long. Note that ancillary testing was not included in the 22 minute work up time average.

Work ups which included unusual circumstances (i.e., a patient requiring an interpreter or a patient with dementia) which would have impacted the usefulness of this data were eliminated from the study. Data was gathered between 2017 and 2021.

copyright Eye Tech Training, Inc. 2021