Topic/focus: Healthcare Facilities and Services Year(s): 1973 - 1981, 1985, and 1989 - 2010 Source: National Center for Health Statistics Study and sample characteristics: Raw survey data Universe: Visits to nonfederally employed office-based physicians who are primarily engaged in direct patient care Variables: Varies by year Access: Publically available Cost: Free Key web links: CDC: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) Primary Institutional Contact: EDRC Coordinator (tchelius@mcw.edu)
Summary: The NAMCS contains information on office-based visits to physicians who are primarily engaged in direct patient care. Visits to physicians in the specialties of anesthesiology, pathology, and radiology are excluded. It contains data items on patient demographics, diagnoses, procedures, medications, type of visit, and physician.