Physicians in geriatric and hospice care see the fewest patients per hour, while physicians in orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology and diagnostic radiology see the most patients, according to a report cited by Medpage Today.
Depending on the day, physicians across all specialties saw anywhere from 1 to 15 patients per hour. Here are specialties ranked by the average number of patients seen per hour:
Orthopedic surgery — 5.25 patients per hour
Ophthalmology — 5.25 patients per hour
Diagnostic radiology — 5.25 patients per hour
Dermatology — 5 patients per hour
Otolaryngology — 4.25 patients per hour
General surgery — 4.25 patients per hour
Nephrology — 4 patients per hour
Urology — 4 patients per hour
OB-GYN — 4 patients per hour
Hospitalist — 3.75 patients per hour
Pediatrics — 3.75 patients per hour
Pulmonology — 3.75 patients per hour
Hematology/oncology — 3.5 patients per hour
Interventional radiology — 3.5 patients per hour
Cardiology — 3.25 patients per hour
Anesthesiology — 3.25 patients per hour
Physiatry — 3.25 patients per hour
Family medicine — 3 patients per hour
Internal medicine — 3 patients per hour
Allergy/immunology — 3 patients per hour
Gastroenterology — 3 patients per hour
Endocrinology — 3 patients per hour
Infectious disease — 3 patients per hour
Rheumatology — 2.75 patients per hour
Sleep medicine — 2.75 patients per hour
Psychiatry — 2.5 patients per hour
Neurology — 2.5 patients per hour
Addiction medicine — 2.5 patients per hour
Radiation oncology — 2.25 patients per hour
Emergency medicine — 2.25 patients per hour
Geriatric medicine — 1.75 patients per hour
Hospice — 1.5 patients per hour
Palliative care — 1.5 patients per hour