00000011.htm

pr^tjce'¹ arJ "bc^M! *^²^- practice," either as a
redden: x foli-::m* ho*p.tal <»iaff. Non-patient care ac-

ir«:::es, siich a^s> administration, teaching, and

research are also reported separately. Two of
the aim it} categories—inactive and not classified-
may further clarification, inactive physicians are
who have rep^rte*! to the AM A via the Physician's

Professional Acmhv questionnaire thai they are either

retired, semi-retired, permanentI> disabled, temporarily

not :n practice, or not active for other reasons. Physi-

uho are as not classified are those for

she AMA nas not received any information as to

their of practice and employment.

Definitions of the two other classifications used in

describing physician characteristics are: Age as defined
In terms of intervals of under 35, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55
to 64, 65 to 75, and ^5 and over; Federal employment as
defined as employment by the Veterans Administration,
Military Services, the U.S. Public Health Service, and
other Federal Service.

The medical education background of physicians is
presented in several forms. Physicians who graduated
from United States medical schools are categorized by
the school of graduation and the state in which they cur-
rently are practicing medicine. In addition, physicians
in a particular county group or county within a
are cross-categorized either as having graduated
from a in the si ale, in a contiguous state,

in other stale, in Canada, or outside the United

Canada.

available in the Characteristics of Physicians.⁴ For in-
stance, Characteristics of Physicians provides more
detailed analysis of the major professional activity of
physicians. In addition, it provides board certification
statistics for individual HSA's and counties, age and
specialty distributions by county, and specialty and age
distributions for Federal physicians. Further, because
the CHSS collection effort relies on 50 separate agen-
cies, uniformity in quality and effort is not assured.
And indeed the CHSS is collecting physician data in on-
ly a limited number of states at this time.

INTERPRETATION OF TABLES

Because of the complexity and detail of the data
presented in these volumes, care must be exercised in
their interpretation. A few explanatory words are
necessary about the treatment of the physician
classifications used in these tabulations.
As mentioned previously, it was felt that data on profes-
sionally active physicians would be most useful for
research and planning purposes. At the same time,
however, it was felt that the total pool of physician
manpower should be represented in these volumes. This
dual purpose caused some problem in the design of cer-
tain tables because of the inactive and not classified ac-
tivity categories. These two categories are included in
the tabulations but are treated differently depending on
the type of cross-tabulation involved. Generally, in
tables in which specialty is cross-tabulated with major
professional activity, the inactive and not classified
physicians are included in the total value but are not
distributed by specialty. Instead, these two values are
provided at the bottom of the specialty column under
"Inactive/' *'Non-classified," and "Address
Unknown". To arrive at the total value, the inactive
and not classified values should be added to the sum of
the other major professional activity categories. This
applies to Tables 1, 3, 6, 9, 16, and 19.

Address Unknown

Physicians with unknown addresses are included only
in Table 1 for informational purposes. Again, this value
is not distributed throughout the table but is included in
the grand total. Physicians with unknown addresses are
excluded from all other national tables; therefore the
grand total value on Table 1 exceeds the total value of
Table 2 plus the total in Table 3, and the total reported
in Table 4.

Availably of Data

This concludes the description of data contained in
the COP series. Every effort has been made to provide
the most frequently requested information in a manner
meaningful to most users. These data are also being
made available in the form of print tapes from the
Bureau of Health Manpower. In addition, plans are also
underway to publish the COP series on a regular basis.

⁴ These observations are based on a comparison oFthe Health Data
Annual for Massachusetts and the Characteristics of Physicians:
Massachusetts.

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
PUBLICATIONS
AND TO THE COOPERATIVE
HEALTH STATISTICS SYSTEM {CHSS)

Although previous AMA publications, Physician

amd Llcensure In the U.S., and

Alumni, have reported similar informa-
tion* of Physicians provides more detail-
ed Information previously available in published
form.

The publication has two key features; greater detail of
and greater detail with
to units. More detail is provided for

age sex, and specialty board certifica-

tion—for groups* individual counties,

and for the service areas. Thus, this publication

to a extensive set of data needs not
met by AMA publication series.
^ A effort to provide information

to the jn Characteristics ofPhysl-

is by the Cooperative Health

Although this system even-
is 10 on a stat <sby-state ba§is for thir-

teen occupations, reports published as a

of CHSS have not contained the level of detail



	pr^tjce'¹ arJ "bc^M! ^²^- practice," either as a redden:* x foli-::m* hop.tal <»iaff. Non-patient care ac- ir«:::es, siich a^s> administration, teaching, and research are also reported separately. Two of the aim it}* categories—inactive and not classified- may further clarification, inactive physicians are who have rep^rte! to the AM A via the Physician's Professional Acmhv questionnaire thai they are either retired, semi-retired, permanentI> disabled, temporarily not :n practice, or not active for other reasons. Physi- uho are as not classified are those for she AMA nas not received any information as to their of practice and employment. Definitions of the two other classifications used in describing physician characteristics are: Age as defined In terms of intervals of under 35, 35 to 44,* 45 to 54, 55 to 64, 65 to 75, and ^5 and over; Federal employment as defined as employment by the Veterans Administration, Military Services, the U.S. Public Health Service, and other Federal Service. The medical education background of physicians is presented in several forms. Physicians who graduated from United States medical schools are categorized by the school of graduation and the state in which they cur- rently are practicing medicine. In addition, physicians in a particular county group or county within a are cross-categorized either as having graduated from a in the si ale, in a contiguous state, in other stale, in Canada, or outside the United Canada.	available in the Characteristics of Physicians.⁴ For in- stance, Characteristics of Physicians provides more detailed analysis of the major professional activity of physicians. In addition, it provides board certification statistics for individual HSA's and counties, age and specialty distributions by county, and specialty and age distributions for Federal physicians. Further, because the CHSS collection effort relies on 50 separate agen- cies, uniformity in quality and effort is not assured. And indeed the CHSS is collecting physician data in on- ly a limited number of states at this time. INTERPRETATION OF TABLES Because of the complexity and detail of the data presented in these volumes, care must be exercised in their interpretation. A few explanatory words are necessary about the treatment of the physician classifications used in these tabulations. As mentioned previously, it was felt that data on profes- sionally active physicians would be most useful for research and planning purposes. At the same time, however, it was felt that the total pool of physician manpower should be represented in these volumes. This dual purpose caused some problem in the design of cer- tain tables because of the inactive and not classified ac- tivity categories. These two categories are included in the tabulations but are treated differently depending on the type of cross-tabulation involved. Generally, in tables in which specialty is cross-tabulated with major professional activity, the inactive and not classified physicians are included in the total value but are not distributed by specialty. Instead, these two values are provided at the bottom of the specialty column under "Inactive/' 'Non-classified," and "Address Unknown". To arrive at the total value, the inactive and not classified values should be added to the sum of the other major professional activity categories. This applies to Tables 1, 3, 6, 9, 16, and 19. Address Unknown* Physicians with unknown addresses are included only in Table 1 for informational purposes. Again, this value is not distributed throughout the table but is included in the grand total. Physicians with unknown addresses are excluded from all other national tables; therefore the grand total value on Table 1 exceeds the total value of Table 2 plus the total in Table 3, and the total reported in Table 4. Availably of Data This concludes the description of data contained in the COP series. Every effort has been made to provide the most frequently requested information in a manner meaningful to most users. These data are also being made available in the form of print tapes from the Bureau of Health Manpower. In addition, plans are also underway to publish the COP series on a regular basis. ⁴ These observations are based on a comparison oFthe Health Data Annual for Massachusetts and the Characteristics of Physicians: Massachusetts.
	RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS AND TO THE COOPERATIVE HEALTH STATISTICS SYSTEM {CHSS) Although previous AMA publications, Physician amd Llcensure In the U.S., and Alumni, have reported similar informa- tion* of Physicians provides more detail- ed Information previously available in published form. The publication has two key features; greater detail of and greater detail with to units. More detail is provided for age sex, and specialty board certifica- tion—for groups* individual counties, and for the service areas. Thus, this publication to a extensive set of data needs not met by AMA publication series. ^ A effort to provide information to the jn Characteristics ofPhysl- is by the Cooperative Health Although this system even- is 10 on a stat <sby-state ba§is for thir- teen occupations, reports published as a of CHSS have not contained the level of detail