Surveys and primary source data

Census of physicians

Census of medical groups

Annual survey of GME programs

Annual survey of GME teaching institutions

Data exchange

Data collection

The AMA has a long history of collecting and maintaining data and is the single most comprehensive source for physician-related data. Physicians' records are subject to change and are updated continually through the extensive data collection activities described below.

Census of physicians

Since 1968, a mail questionnaire (PPA) has collected information on each physician's professional activity, practice specialty, type of practice, present employment, hospital affiliation, and group practice affiliation. PPA surveys are sent to the physician population at regular intervals.

Direct requests for PPA survey information to:

Susan Montrimas
Department of Census and  
Self Reported Data
515 N State St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 464-5184
(312) 464-4184 (fax)
E-mail: Susan.Montrimas@ama-assn.org

Census of medical groups

For some years, the AMA has periodically conducted the Census of Medical Groups (CMG) to monitor this increasingly important trend in physicians' practice style. Surveys indicate that the number of medical group practices increased from 4,289 groups in 1965 to 19,820 groups in 1996 (362 percent). Recently the data collection methodology has changed from a paper survey every few years to telephone verification every six to nine months.

Direct requests for additional CMG information to:

Pat Scheibel
Department of Physician Practice and
Communications Information
(312) 464-5432
(312) 464-4184 (fax)
E-mail: Pat.Scheibel@ama-assn.org

Annual survey of GME programs

Approximately 7,900 ACGME-accredited residency programs receive the Annual Survey of GME Programs, an electronic survey (on computer disk). Also surveyed are some 200 programs that offer medical specialty board-approved "combined specialty" programs. Program directors provide information on program characteristics such as clinical and research facilities and the learning environment. The Census of Graduate Medical Trainees portion of the survey collects data on individual residents in GME programs and is used to update physician AMA Physician Masterfile records. The Annual Survey of GME Programs response rate is consistently over 95 percent. Exception mailings result in the final updating of 99.5 percent of all census records sent out.

Direct requests for additional GME survey information to:

Chris Mathews
Department of Census and Self Reported Data
(312) 464-4694
(312) 464-4880(fax)
E-mail: Chris.Mathews@ama-assn.org

Annual Survey of GME Teaching Institutions

Approximately 900 institutions sponsoring ACGME-accredited residency programs and 700 institutions that participate in GME training by making facilities available to one or more residency programs are surveyed annually. Respondents provide information on institutional features, resources, and benefits available to residents, and on institutional teaching staff.

Direct requests for additional GME survey information to:

Chris Mathews
Department of Census and Self Reported Data
(312) 464-4694
(312) 464-4880(fax)
E-mail: Chris.Mathews@ama-assn.org

Primary Source Data

Although information collected from AMA surveys contribute much of the data maintained in the AMA Physician Masterfile, primary source data are also obtained from the organizations identified below.

• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME): ACGME-accredited residency programs and GME teaching institutions
• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS): ABMS-member board certification and subcertification status
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education: US medical school matriculation data
• National Board of Medical Examiners: medical students and physicians completing all parts of the United States Medical Licensing Examination
• National Residency Matching Program: residents matched to ACGME-accredited programs
• Medical specialty boards: specialty board-approved combined GME residency programs
• State licensing boards: physicians' initial and active licensure status
• United States Postal Service Address Correction System (ACS): address updates generated through ACS change of address and nondelivery processing
• United States Surgeons General: physicians in government service

Direct requests for additional data exchange information to:

Monica Quiroz
Department of Primary Source Data
(312) 464-4153
(312) 464-4184 (fax)
E-mail: Monica.Quiroz@ama-assn.org