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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Steven Machlin, MS and Marc Zodet, MS. Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, 301-427-1480, smachlin@ahrq.gov

The aggregate quantity, trends, and patterns of ambulatory care are critical areas of interest for public health researchers and policymakers who deal with issues of access, prevention, and cost. Data from multiple surveys can be used to produce general estimates of the use of ambulatory care services in the United States. Two of these surveys, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), cover the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population and collect health care use data through personal household interviews. Nonetheless, the surveys have different focuses, designs, and data collection methodologies that undoubtedly have an important impact on the data collected. This paper compares estimates from MEPS and NHIS of ambulatory care utilization in 2004, including visits to doctors' offices, hospital outpatient departments, and hospital emergency rooms. Differences in survey estimates as related to differences in survey design and data collection methodologies among the two surveys, as well as strengths and limitations of the data from each survey are discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

1.Identify differences between the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and National Health Interview Survey in approaches to data collection on ambulatory care.
• Assess discrepancies in estimates of ambulatory care utilization obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and National Health Interview Survey. 3.Describe important considerations when comparing survey data on ambulatory care utilization.

Keywords: Ambulatory Care, Statistics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation