National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, Restricted data, 1973, 1975-1981, 1985, 1989-2016, 2018-2019

Findings are based on a sample of visits to non-federally employed office-based physicians who are primarily engaged in direct patient care. Physicians in the specialties (including designated sub-specialties) of anesthesiology, pathology, and radiology are excluded from the survey.

The survey was conducted annually from 1973 to 1981, again in 1985, and annually since 1989. Data collection from the physician, rather than from the patient, provides an analytic base that expands information on ambulatory care collected through other NCHS surveys. Data about the physician and their practice characteristics are collected during a survey induction interview.