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Ambulatory medical care utilization estimates for 2005
Catharine W Burt1, Linda F McCaig, Elizabeth A Rechtsteiner
1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA.
Advance Data
|September 6, 2007
Summary
In 2005, 1.2 billion ambulatory care visits occurred in the U.S., with rates increasing since 1995. Medication prescriptions rose significantly, highlighting a shift in medical treatments.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ambulatory care is a cornerstone of healthcare delivery in the United States.
- Understanding trends in ambulatory care utilization is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present comprehensive statistics on ambulatory care visits in the U.S. for 2005.
- To analyze ambulatory medical care utilization based on patient, practice, facility, and visit characteristics.
- To compare 2005 utilization data with 1995 trends.
Main Methods:
- Combined data from the 2005 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS).
- Generated averaged annual estimates for ambulatory medical care utilization.
Main Results:
- An estimated 1.2 billion ambulatory care visits occurred in 2005, averaging 4.0 visits per person annually.
- Visit rates increased between 1995 and 2005 across various care settings, influenced by population aging.
- Medication prescriptions at ambulatory visits increased by 10% from 1995 to 2005, with 2.4 billion medications prescribed or administered in 2005.
Conclusions:
- Ambulatory care utilization in the U.S. saw significant growth and shifts in characteristics between 1995 and 2005.
- The increasing reliance on medicinal treatments underscores the evolving landscape of ambulatory care.
- Demographic factors and insurance status continue to influence access and utilization patterns in ambulatory care settings.
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