Physician-Patient E-mail Disconnect

Publication Date:

Publisher: Center for Studying Health System Change

Author(s): A.B. Liebhaber; J.M. Grossman

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

This data bulletin presents findings from the HSC Community Tracking Study Physician Survey, a nationally representative telephone survey of physicians involved in direct patient care in the continental United States conducted in 1996-97, 1998-99, 2000-01 and 2004-05. The sample of physicians was drawn from the American Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association master files and included active, nonfederal, office- and hospital-based physicians who spent at least 20 hours a week in direct patient care. Residents and fellows were excluded. Questions on information technology were added to the 2000-01 survey and continued in the 2004-05 survey. The 2000-01 survey contains information on about 12,000 physicians, while the 2004-05 survey includes responses from more than 6,600 physicians. The response rates were 52 percent (2004-05) and 59 percent (2000-01).