Upon investigating residency programs, every respondent reviewed program websites, and the majority of them also reviewed program emails (n = 88 [854%]), Doximity (n = 82 [796%]), Reddit (n = 64 [621%]), Instagram (n = 59 [573%]), the FREIDA residency program database (n = 55 [534%]), and YouTube (n = 53 [515%]). The 13 digital platforms included in the study were all used by at least a quarter of the survey participants, predominantly for passive consumption, focusing on reading rather than content creation. To enhance program transparency, according to respondents, the website should showcase the annual resident admissions, current resident profiles, and job/fellowship outcomes for resident alumni. Digital media plays a significant role in applicants' choices for application and interview locations, but their subsequent ranking decisions heavily depend on their personal experiences with the program. By refining their digital media strategies, ophthalmology programs can attract more prospective applicants.
Examination of prior research suggests that personal statements and letters of recommendation are evaluated differently, depending on the candidate's race and gender, creating inconsistencies in grading. Despite the detrimental effect of fatigue and the end-of-day experience on task performance, the residency selection process has not addressed this issue. To understand the influence of factors such as interview time, day, candidate gender, and interviewer gender, a key objective of this study is to assess their effect on residency interview scores. Seven years' worth of ophthalmology residency candidate evaluation scores (2013-2019), compiled at a single academic institution, were normalized by interviewers to a relative percentile scale (0-100). These scores were then categorized for comparison across different interview days (Day 1 vs. Day 2), morning/afternoon sessions (AM/PM), interview sessions (Day 1 AM/PM vs. Day 2 AM/PM), pre- and post-break intervals (morning break, lunch break, afternoon break), alongside the genders of the residency candidates and interviewers. A statistically significant difference in scores was observed between morning and afternoon sessions, with morning candidates achieving higher scores (5275 vs. 4928, p < 0.0001). The statistical analysis of interview scores demonstrates a substantial increase from early morning to early afternoon, surpassing late afternoon scores (5447, 5301, 5215 vs. 4674, p < 0.0001). Analyzing interview scores across all years, no disparity was observed in scores obtained before and after morning breaks (5171 vs. 5283, p = 0.049), lunch breaks (5301 vs. 5215, p = 0.058), or afternoon breaks (5035 vs. 4830, p = 0.021). A comparative analysis of scores received by female and male applicants yielded no significant disparity (5155 vs. 5049, p = 0.021), and similarly, no notable difference was observed in the scores given by female and male interviewers (5131 vs. 5084, p = 0.058). The afternoon residency candidate interview scores, particularly those in the late afternoon, displayed a statistically significant decline compared to morning scores, implying the need for further investigation into the impact of interviewer fatigue during the residency interview process. The interview score was not influenced by the day of the interview, the availability of break times, the candidate's gender, or the interviewer's gender.
The purpose of this investigation was to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic altered the rate of ophthalmology residents choosing to match at their home institutions. The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology and the San Francisco (SF) Match provided the de-identified summary match result data, compiled from 2017 through 2022, for aggregate analysis. Researchers utilized a chi-squared test to compare the rate of successful matches for ophthalmology home residency programs in the period after the COVID-19 pandemic with the rate during the years preceding it. PubMed served as the source for a literature review analyzing the matching rates of other medical subspecialties to their respective home institutions throughout the same study duration. A chi-squared test on the proportions revealed a markedly higher probability of ophthalmology residents matching with their home programs in the 2021-2022 San Francisco Match (post-COVID-19) compared to the 2017-2020 timeframe. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0001). The trend of increased home institution residency match rates extended to additional medical disciplines, including otolaryngology, plastic surgery, and dermatology, during the concurrent period. In spite of increases in home institution match rates for neurosurgery and urology, these improvements did not demonstrate statistical significance. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2021-2022 was associated with a substantial upswing in the ophthalmology home-institution residency SF Match rate. The 2021 match data in specialties such as otolaryngology, dermatology, and plastic surgery showcases a comparable trend, which is also apparent here. In-depth study is essential to identify the factors contributing to this observed phenomenon.
We examine the accuracy of direct-to-patient, real-time video visits in our eye care facility. A longitudinal, retrospective study design was employed. hypoxia-induced immune dysfunction Subjects completing virtual visits within a three-week window, March through April 2020, formed the study cohort. Accuracy in diagnosis and treatment, as determined by video visit data, was assessed by contrasting it with in-person follow-up over a year later. Out of the 210 patients (average age 55 years and 18 days) studied, a scheduled in-person follow-up was recommended for 172 (82%) after their video consultation. Of the 141 patients completing in-person follow-up, a diagnostic alignment was observed in 137 (97%) cases when comparing telehealth and in-person evaluations. Y-27632 cell line The 116 (82%) cases that agreed to the management plan, the remaining visits will involve either enhancing or reducing treatment, contingent upon an in-person follow-up, presenting negligible substantive alterations. Biotinylated dNTPs In contrast to established patients, new patients experienced a greater divergence in diagnoses after video consultations (12% vs. 1%, p = 0.0014). Acute patient visits revealed a trend toward more divergent diagnostic opinions compared to routine visits (6% vs. 1%, p = 0.028), but the rate of management adjustments on subsequent follow-up was surprisingly equivalent (21% vs. 16%, p = 0.048). Compared to established patients (5%), new patients (17%) had a higher incidence of early, unplanned follow-up appointments, statistically significant (p = 0.0029). Acute video visits were also correlated with a higher rate of unplanned, early in-person appointments (13%) than routine video visits (3%), demonstrating statistical significance (p = 0.0027). Our telemedicine program for outpatient patients did not register any substantial negative events. Subsequent in-person follow-ups demonstrated a strong alignment with video visits concerning diagnostic and management aspects.
The reliability of follow-up care for incarcerated patients in outpatient ophthalmology remains an open question, given their unique vulnerability. Consecutive incarcerated patients seen at the ophthalmology clinic of a single academic medical center from July 2012 to September 2016 were the subjects of a retrospective, observational chart review. Patient age, gender, incarceration status (pre- or post-incarceration), interventions, requested follow-up interval, follow-up urgency, and actual follow-up time were documented for each patient encounter. The primary outcome metrics encompassed no-show rates and timely follow-up, defined as completion within the prescribed timeframe of 15 days. In the course of the study, 489 patients were involved, leading to a total of 2014 clinical appointments. A group of 489 patients was assessed; among them, 189 patients, representing 387 percent, had only one session. Considering the 300 patients with multiple encounters, a noteworthy 184 (61.3%) eventually did not return. Conversely, a mere 24 patients (8%) were always present and punctual for each and every scheduled appointment. In the 1747 cases that called for specific follow-up actions, 1072 were determined to be handled on time (61.3% of the total). Procedures performed, urgency of follow-up, incarcerated status, and follow-up requests were all significantly linked to subsequent loss to follow-up, with p-values below 0.00001 for the first three and 0.00408 for incarceration. A significant finding in our study of incarcerated patients requiring repeat examinations was a loss to follow-up exceeding 60%, most pronounced among those requiring intervention or more immediate follow-up. A notable decrease in follow-up was observed among patients entering and leaving the penal system, while they were incarcerated. To delineate how these deficiencies compare to those present in the general public, and to determine approaches for improving these outcomes, further work is necessary.
The same-day ophthalmic urgent care clinic stands out for its efficient eye care services, valuable educational resources, and improvements to patient experience. This study systematically investigated volume, financial effect, care parameters, and the scope of pathology encountered during urgent new patient presentations, categorized by the site of initial presentation. The Henkind Eye Institute's same-day triage clinic at Montefiore Medical Center undertook a retrospective analysis of urgent new patient evaluations, all of which were seen consecutively between February 2019 and January 2020. The TRIAGE group consisted of the patients who sought immediate care at this urgent care clinic. The ED+TRIAGE group consists of patients presenting initially to the emergency department (ED), followed by referral to our triage clinic. The outcomes of visits were evaluated using a range of factors, including diagnostic classifications, time spent, charges, expenditures, and income generated.