Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the utilization of ambulatory surgery centers in the state of Florida for vitreoretinal, cataract , and glaucoma surgical procedures over a ten-year period.
Methods: :
The State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (SASD) are one in a family of databases and software tools developed as part of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). A Federal-State-Industry partnership sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HCUP data inform decision making at the national, State, and community levels. We queried the State Ambulatory Surgery Database for ICD-9 Codes (CPT equivalent codes) for vitreoretinal surgical procedures, cataract surgical procedures, and glaucoma surgical procedures between the years 1999 and 2008 for the State of Florida. We determined the number of these cases performed each year and calculated their frequency over the time period of the study. Statistical analyses were performed to determine statistical significance. Cases were identified in the Florida State Ambulatory Surgery Database (SASD) for all eligible patient admissions between 1999 and 2008.Joinpoint regression was used to estimate annual percentage changes (APCs) for the study period. Monte Carlo Permutation method was used to test significant changes in trends over time.
Results: :
The APC for each type of surgical procedure over the course of the study period was as follows: +33.61% for vitreoretinal procedures (P=0.027858), +82.93% for cataract procedures (P=0.023241), and +35.25% for glaucoma procedures (p=0.005501). The number of surgical cases for each category of surgery in 1999 and 2008 was as follows: vitrectomy (3,124 in 1999; 26,407 in 2008), cataract (28,504 in 1999; 163,419 in 2008), and glaucoma (387 in 1999; 5,433 in 2008).
Conclusions: :
In the ten-year period from 1999-2008, there was a statistically significant increased utilization of ASCs for vitreoretinal, cataract, and glaucoma surgical procedures.
Keywords: retina • cataract • retinal detachment