Like many other organizations, the Academy relies on data to inform its education, advocacy and member services activities. We value the direct feedback we receive from members through surveys and focus groups to measure awareness and utilization of Academy member benefits and services and determine the key drivers of member satisfaction and value perceptions.
A member-engagement survey was conducted in May 2018 to learn about U.S. practicing ophthalmologists’ general attitudes toward the Academy, measure their awareness and utilization of member benefits and services and determine the key drivers of member satisfaction and value perceptions. The primary objective of the research is to reassess the state of member engagement and gain a better understanding of member needs. The findings will enable the Academy to continue to deliver solutions for the full spectrum of challenges and needs faced by ophthalmologists in practice, develop and enhance programs and services that are truly responsive and relevant to our members.
The data below are from the 2018 survey conducted by Loyalty Research Center (LRC) with a confidence interval of 95 percent (plus or minus 3.3 percent). Results are based on 782 responses collected from a representative sample of the Academy’s membership in terms of gender, age, tenure, practice modality and clinical focus. Forty percent of the survey respondents are senior ophthalmologists (SOs) active in clinical practice.
The Academy surpassed LRC’s benchmarks for engagement, necessitating a fourth segment — those who are considered strongest engaged. U.S. members exhibited attitudes and behaviors that are considerably stronger than their cohorts in the strongly engaged segment. The survey found that 84 percent of members are likely to recommend membership, and 93 percent are likely to renew membership. The membership renewal scores are high compared with LRC’s typical response of 90 percent from medical associations.
In the U.S., SOs in active practice have the most favorable perceptions of the Academy and are significantly more engaged than young and mid-career ophthalmologists. This is reflective of the value the Academy has provided throughout the course their careers. Your fellow SOs regard the Academy as an organization that offers year-round value and is a trusted voice for eye care to the public. Among the strengths that SO's attribute to the Academy are the following:
- 86 percent believe the Academy helps them to be better ophthalmologists
- Nine out of 10 see the Academy as the leading source for reliable ophthalmic information and education
- 88 percent consider the Academy as the leading legislative and regulatory advocate for ophthalmologists
Yet, a key part of the Academy’s reputation for this career stage is being forward-thinking/planning for the future. As SOs consider the transition to retirement, they expect that the Academy is promoting a favorable environment for them to exit the profession.
The survey finds SOs to be significantly more likely to consider closing a practice location, leaving their clinical practice (but not retiring), selling their practice to another ophthalmologist or to a private equity firm and/or retirement. For these reasons, SOs see the Academy’s most important role as an advocate — promoting and protecting the profession not just for their exit, but for future generations of ophthalmologists.
Members say that the most critical issues affecting ophthalmology are reimbursement, optometry scope of practice and legislation/regulation. The concerns remain unchanged from the 2015 survey findings. Members reinforced the need for the Academy to continue championing fair physician reimbursement, stopping the expansion of optometrists’ scope of practice and advocating for regulatory relief. Most rate the effectiveness of the Academy’s advocacy efforts as excellent or very good. Two-thirds of SOs felt the Academy provides a collective voice for the profession at the national level and is extremely or very effective in advocating for federal regulatory and/or legislative issues important to ophthalmology.
SOs strongly agree with the statement that the Academy is the leading advocate for the profession on legislative and regulatory issues. There is also an element of consumer advocacy, with the expectation for the Academy to be a trusted voice for eye care to the public as a unique driver of the Academy’s reputation among SOs.