NAMCS Provider Survey Component

Overview

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) collects data about medical services for patients who aren't admitted to a hospital or other facility. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) launched NAMCS in 1973. Since 1989, NCHS has conducted NAMCS annually.

NAMCS collects data from two different ambulatory medical care provider settings:

• Office-based physicians and advanced practice providers, via the Provider Survey Component
• Health centers, via the Health Center Component

The NAMCS Provider Survey Component focuses on the provider experience. The Provider Survey does not collect patient information.

Why participate

NAMCS fulfills an ongoing need for national statistics on ambulatory care. Participants contribute information that increases our accurate understanding of—

• Provider and practice characteristics
• Telemedicine options
• Use of electronic health records
• Healthcare delivery

Healthcare policy makers and public health professionals can use these NAMCS statistics to make health care more accessible and equitable.

For more information, visit Why Participate in the NAMCS Provider Survey.

Who can participate

The NAMCS Provider Survey collects data from office-based physicians and other advanced practice providers, like physician assistants and physician associates, who primarily engage in direct patient care. Participating providers are not employed by the federal government.

Each year, potential participants are randomly selected from national lists of health care providers who currently offer ambulatory care services in the United States. Physicians are selected from the American Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association Master Files. Physician assistants and physician associates are drawn from the American Academy of Physician Associates Master File.

Selected providers receive an invitation to participate from the director of the National Center for Health Statistics. Participation is always voluntary.

How data are collected

The NAMCS Provider Survey is conducted both online and by mail. Those who do not complete the web survey will be mailed a paper questionnaire. Providers who receive the paper questionnaire can use it or the online survey to complete the survey.

RTI International collects provider data for NAMCS on behalf of NCHS.

How findings are used

NAMCS data offer insights into how ambulatory care is provided and used in the United States. Health services researchers and policy makers use NAMCS statistics to understand the changing landscape of ambulatory health care in the United States.

These statistics can be used to:

• Improve professional education curricula for healthcare workers
• Formulate health policy
• Inform medical practice management
• Evaluate quality of care

Research ethics

Under the 2018 requirements of the Common Rule ((45 CFR 46.102(l)(2)), the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey is designated as a public health surveillance activity, rather than a research project. Institutional Review Boards do not need to review or approve public health surveillance activities.

The National Center for Health Statistics Ethics Review Board (ERB) has reviewed and approved NAMCS. You can review the NAMCS ERB approval letter and share it with your Institutional Review Board to verify that the letter meets the requirements of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. We also can send you a copy of the materials submitted to the ERB.