About AMA

AMA Physician Masterfile Data Collection

The AMA Division of Survey and Data Resources is dedicated to effectively and accurately collecting, analyzing, and managing physician data within the Physician Masterfile. The AMA Physician Masterfile is a data source not only for internal use but also for use by other professional medical organizations, universities and medical schools, research institutions, governmental agencies, and other related groups. The use of Physician Masterfile data by agencies and organizations concerned with verifying physicians' credentials and health manpower planning is fundamental to the AMA's mission to strengthen the medical profession and ensure quality health care for the American public.

The Physician Masterfile is a database comprising current and historical data for more than 940,000 physicians and residents and 77,000 students in the United States. This figure includes approximately 243,000 graduates of international medical schools who reside in the United States and who have met the educational and credentialing requirements necessary for recognition and approximately 62,000 doctors of osteopathy. Physicians' records are subject to change and are updated continuously through the extensive data collection activities described below.

Survey and Data Resources is comprised of the following units:

• Department of Data Integration and Quality Analysis
• Department of Practice and Communication Data
• Information Management and Data Release
• Data Integration and Operations Support

These units are essential in maintaining the Masterfile as one of the most comprehensive and accurate sources of physician data.

Department of Data Integration and Quality Analysis

The responsibility of the Department of Data Integration and Quality Analysis is to ensure that the AMA's Physician Masterfile contains timely and high-quality data on physicians, residents, medical students, medical education institutions and other healthcare organizations. A core function performed within this department is to establish new AMA Physician Masterfile records, assigning a unique identifier that will remain the same throughout a physician's medical career.

In addition to the above functions, the department processes resident information collected via the National Graduate Medical Education (GME) Census, an annual survey conducted jointly with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Each year, approximately 8,300 ACGME-accredited and 120 ABMS Board-approved GME programs are surveyed. The reported residency information is internally validated and incorporated into a physician's record. The survey also includes questions on GME program characteristics, such as clinical and research facilities and the learning environment, which are used to update FREIDA Online® and the Graduate Medical Education Directory, produced by the Division of Graduate Medical Education.

Department of Practice and Communications Data

The responsibility of this department is to track physicians throughout their professional careers by collecting and maintaining current practice and communications data. The Department of Practice and Communications Data surveys up to 375,000 physicians annually, applies updates to more than 300,000 physician mailing addresses per year, and collects updates to group practice locations and physician affiliation data from more than 79,000 US medical groups.

Once physicians complete residency and/or fellowship training, the department tracks them throughout their professional careers. The annual Census of Physicians, for example, is mailed to approximately 250,000 physicians per year and collects information on a physician's professional medical activities, preferred mailing address, principal hospital and group affiliations, and practice specialties, among other data. This department also utilizes over 20 additional sources to supplement data collected via the Physicians Census mailings. The information that is captured is used to support membership efforts, communicate with physicians, segment physician markets, draw samples for health-related research, perform workforce analysis, and track professional trends.

Another primary function of this department is to conduct annual surveys of medical group practices keeping the Group Practice Database current. This database contains information and affiliations for more than 79,000 group practice locations and 550,000 associated physician affiliations.

Data release services

This business unit within the Division of Survey and Data Resources educates others about, facilitates access to, and evaluates the quality of the AMA Physician Masterfile.

The unit educates data users about the Physician Masterfile by managing and responding to telephone, e-mail, and written inquiries regarding Physician Masterfile data, fulfilling more than 300 data requests a year. This effort supports the communications, marketing, and planning efforts of other AMA units.

A primary role of the unit is production of the book Physician Characteristics and Distribution in the US, an annual publication with comprehensive statistical data on the physician supply in the United States. In addition, Data Release Services supports the AMA's Partnership for Growth Data Reciprocity Project, which promotes data sharing with state medical associations and national medical specialty organizations.

Data integration and operation support

Within the division office, this business unit is responsible for processing over 40 million updates annually received from state regulatory and federal agencies, medical specialty groups and organizations, educational and training institutions, and membership and subscription services. Of utmost importance to the division is ensuring timely data load cycles to the Masterfile. On average, 97 percent of the matched records are loaded to the Masterfile within six business days of receipt. Timely processing of incoming data is key to ensuring accurate and comprehensive reporting to credentialing groups and health care organizations.

Other activities performed within the division include:
Managing the AMA's corporate mailing list application, which includes more than 100 different list directories and supports key Association activities involving the AMA board, councils, committees, advisory groups, and House of Delegates

• Publishing the Federation and Pictorial Directories on the AMA Web site
• Providing a mechanism and data resources for use by medical schools, universities, research institutions, governmental agencies, and other organizations interested in the study of heath care policy issues
• Coordinating the distribution of Masterfile-related reports, physician profiles, and data to state, county, and national specialty medical societies
• Conducting validation studies
• Developing, measuring, and monitoring key performance indicators
• Identifying, researching, and analyzing potential new sources of data as well as new tools to enhance data processing

AMA Database Licensing

The AMA has license agreements with Database Licensees who specialize in direct mail and a variety of marketing services for the entire medical community. Organizations wishing to inquire about licensing the Physician Masterfile should contact the Department of Database Licensing.

Contact information:

Division of Survey and Data Resources
Monica Quiroz, Director
American Medical Association
515 N State Street
Chicago, IL 60654
E-mail: monica.quiroz@ama-assn.org

Mark Long, Director
Data Integration and Quality Analysis
American Medical Association
515 N State Street
Chicago, IL 60654
E-mail: mark.long@ama-assn.org

Susan Montrimas, Director
Department of Practice and Communications Data
American Medical Association
515 N State Street
Chicago, IL 60654
E-mail: susan.montrimas@ama-assn.org

Derek Smart, Manager
Information Management and Data Release
American Medical Association
515 N State Street
Chicago, IL 60654
E-mail: derek.smart@ama-assn.org

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