Analysis reveals imbalanced referral patterns between ophthalmology and optometry, suggesting capacity influences rates.
The general pattern of interprofessional referrals appears to be limited from ophthalmology to optometry, but substantial from optometry to ophthalmology. The intraprofessional referral rate of ophthalmology far exceeds that of optometry. A potential relationship between unused practice capacity and referral rates is suggested. Referral ethics is discussed.
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Robert M. Refowitz (1981) studied this question.
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