Variations in Perceived Need and Access to Specialist Care among Adults in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2007. Statistical Brief No. 274

摘要

Specialists are doctors who have completed advanced education and clinical training in a specific medical or surgical field. In 2006, more than half of the physicians in the United States were specialists, such as allergists, cardiologists, dermatologists, neurologists, oncologists, and surgeons (U.S. Census Bureau 2009). While most adults need specialty care at some time in their lives, patients with chronic conditions, complications, or severe or persistent symptoms may have a particular need to see specialists. Using data from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC), this Statistical Brief examines variations in the perceptions of adults age 18 and over about their need for and access to physician specialists in 2007. These variations are examined across several characteristics including age, insurance coverage, the presence of selected chronic conditions (or not) and having a usual source of care (or not). The estimates in this Brief are the opinions of the adult U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population regarding their need to see specialists and whether it was a big problem to see a specialist (see Definitions). All comparisons discussed in the text are statistically significant at the .05 level unless otherwise noted.