Quantifying the value of AMPA membership services

The purpose of this study was to quantify the value of current and future Air Medical Physician Association (AMPA) membership services.

Three-hundred-ninety-eight AMPA members were contacted by e-mail to participate in ranking AMPA membership services by a perceived numeric value (10 = highest to 1 = lowest), using a web-based survey.

One-hundred-eighteen AMPA members completed the survey. The percentage of respondents having attended the conference and their AMPA-related Conference ranked-value scores were as follows: Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC), 43%, 9.6 +/- 1.9; AirMed International Conference, 9%, 7.8 +/- 4.2; AMTC Pre-conference, 65%, 7.6 +/- 2.5; Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference (CCTMC), 47%, 6.6 +/- 2.6; CCTMC Pre-conference, 37%, 6.6 +/- 2.6; the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) Mid-Year Conference, 6%, 6.4 +/- 4.9; and General Membership meeting, 63%, 5.6 +/- 2.4. Current AMPA Benefit/Service ranked-value scores were as follows: textbook, 8.4 +/- 1.8; voice for physicians, 8.0 +/- 2.3; position papers, 7.9 +/- 1.8; Air Medical Journal subscription, 7.8 +/- 2.1; networking with others, 7.7 +/- 2.4; newsletter, 7.3 +/- 1.9; means to enhance professional credibility, 7.1 +/- 2.5; web site, 7.0 +/- 2.1; voice on Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), 7.0 +/- 2.7; continuing medical education (CME) credits, 6.6 +/- 3.0; conference discounts, 6.4 +/- 2.9; and curriculum vitae builder, 4.9 +/- 2.9. Future AMPA Benefits/Services ranked-value scores were as follows: evidence-based guidelines, 8.6 +/- 1.7; transport database, 7.7 +/- 2.1; malpractice repository, 7.6 +/- 2.2; DVD lectures, 7.4 +/- 2.0; medical director certification, 7.2 +/- 2.9; lobbying, 7.1 +/- 2.4; photo library, 6.4 +/- 2.3; salary and benefits surveys, 6.4 +/- 2.6; speaker's bureau, 6.2 +/- 2.4; and consulting service list, 6.2 +/- 2.4.

This AMPA survey was useful in prioritizing membership services.