Value-Based Care News

Ambulatory Healthcare Services See Upswing in Receipts, Employment

By Ryan Mcaskill

The latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show ambulatory healthcare services have increased over the last five years.

- The healthcare industry has experienced a steady increase in overall strength in recent years. According to a recent study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the use of ambulatory healthcare services are increasing along with employment rates in the sector. There are 582,733 ambulatory healthcare services facilities in the U.S. These establishments manage outpatient services including physicians and dentists, home healthcare and medical laboratories.

This information is part of the 2012 Economic Census Industry Series, which publishes national statistics for detailed industries. The census is conducted every five years and provides a comprehensive and detailed profile of the U.S. economy, in this case, 2007 and 2012.

The latest economic census numbers found that receipts from the ambulatory healthcare services industry totaled $825.7 billion in 2012, which is up 23.5 percent from $668.5 billion that was reported in 2007.

Census Ambulatory Health Care Employees Infographic

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  • Offices of physicians were accountable for 49.1 percent of ambulatory healthcare services receipts which totalled $405.7 billion in 2012, up 20.6 percent from $336.3 billion in 2007. With the exception of mental health specialists, physicians had a 20.6 percent in receipts from $332 billion to $400.5 billion in 2012. The number of establishments rose 0.6 percent from 209,148 to 210,334.

    Home healthcare services have grown rapidly. This sector is responsible for 5.2 percent of establishments, 8.1 percent of receipts and 19.6 percent of employees. The number of establishment is up 30.6 percent from 23,070 in 2007 to 30,122 in 2012, receipts increased 39.7 percent from 47.6 billion in 2007 to 66.5 billion in 2012 and employment increased 1,286,471 in 2012 from 984,164 in 2007.

    Health practitioners (chiropractors, offices of mental health practitioners, podiatrists, optometrists, physical and occupational therapists and audiologists) are also having a major impact on the upswing in the industry. Total receipts for this section increased 34.2 percent from $50.3 billion in 2007 to $67.5 billion in 2012.

    When it comes to employment, the industry increased 15.1 percent from 5.7 million in 2007 to 6.6 million in 2012. The annual payroll for ambulatory healthcare services increased 24.3 percent from $274.7 billion to $341.4 billion in 2012.

    Employment in the offices of physicians increased 12.2 percent from 40,483 in 2007 to 45.433 in 2012. Annual payroll increased 21.2 percent from $1.9 billion in 2007 to $2.3 billion in 2012. For other health practitioners annual payroll increased 33.5 percent from $4.1 billion in 2007 to $5.5 billion in 2012.