Time use during acute and chronic illness visits to a family physician

OBJECTIVE: To identify differences in time use during acute and chronic care visits. POPULATION: Patients coming to outpatient offices of physician members of a practice-based research network in Ohio. MEASURES: Direct observation and coding of physician activities during acute and chronic care visits. RESULTS: Time use varied by visit type with more time spent on compliance assessment, negotiation, and nutrition advice during chronic care visits. Acute care visits included more time for procedures, physical examination, feedback on test results and health education. CONCLUSION: Physicians structure their use of time to fit the differing goals of acute and chronic care visits.