While the vast majority of respondents (98 percent) said that their practice locations are open, the coronavirus pandemic grind seems to be taking a toll. In the final Jobson Optical Research ECP coronavirus survey for 2021, taken from Dec. 8-31, 2021, most respondents say that while 2021 was a better year than 2020, it just barely came out even with 2019, according to a recent feature from Women In Optometry. 

In terms of numbers of patients per day and profitability per patient, on average, respondents said their 2021 year-end numbers were lower than their 2019 numbers. Across the board, however, the consensus was that 2021 was a significantly better year than 2020. 

Also in this final research wave, 64 percent of respondents said that someone in their work location has gotten coronavirus, the highest percentage yet. In addition, the percentage of those who responded that there’s been a breakthrough coronavirus infection (those who test positive even if they’ve been vaccinated) was up to 29 percent, an increase of 10 percentage points over the result in September. 

Indeed, the most enduring long-term change that has resulted after nearly two years of pandemic is that 31 percent of respondents said that they have reduced the number of patients scheduled per hour. Twenty-one percent of respondents noted that they have increased the number of staff in their practices as a long-term change. 

Click here to view a PDF of the full Wave 28 Survey results from Jobson Research.