Table 1.

Fraction of US Population That Visited Specific Clinician Types in 2004

Population Group*Type of Service or ClinicianAny Visit% (95% CI)
Note: Percentages sum to more than 100% because persons may have visited multiple clinician types. All estimates weighted to represent civilian noninstitutionalized US population.
CI = confidence interval.
* Adults are persons aged 18 years and older; seniors are persons aged 65 years and older; children are persons aged 0–17 years. Seniors and women aged 18–44 y categories are subsets of the adult category.
† Percentage of specified group with any visit to that type of clinician in an ambulatory setting (office or outpatient department) in 2004.
Adults
Any ambulatory visit69.6 (68.7–70.6)
Family physician/general practitioner43.4 (42.3–44.6)
Surgical specialty23.7 (22.8–24.6)
Medical specialty20.6 (19.8–21.4)
General internist13.5 (12.7–14.3)
Nurse-practitioner10.8 (10.0–11.4)
Other specialty8.7 (8.2–9.2)
Psychiatrist2.9 (2.6–3.2)
Physician’s assistant2.8 (2.4–3.2)
Seniors
Any ambulatory visit92.2 (91.1,93.3)
Family physician/general practitioner62.7 (60.4–65.0)
Surgical specialty49.3 (46.9–51.8)
Medical specialty44.7 (42.5–46.8)
General internist28.9 (26.7–31.1)
Nurse-practitioner18.5 (16.6–20.3)
Other specialty16.7 (15.2–18.2)
Physician’s assistant3.2 (2.5–3.8)
Psychiatrist1.7 (1.1–2.3)
Women aged 18–44 y
Any ambulatory visit71.5 (70.1–72.9)
Family physician/general practitioner39.0 (37.3–40.7)
Obstetrician/gynecologist31.0 (29.5–32.6)
Surgical specialty14.0 (12.9–15.1)
Nurse-practitioner12.7 (11.6–13.9)
Medical specialty11.2 (10.3–12.2)
General internist6.7 (5.8–7.6)
Other specialty6.2 (5.4–7.1)
Physician’s assistant3.5 (2.8–4.2)
Psychiatrist3.0 (2.4–3.5)
Children
Any ambulatory visit70.4 (69.0–71.9)
Pediatrician45.3 (43.5–47.3)
Family physician/general practitioner20.2 (18.7–21.8)
Surgical specialty12.3 (11.2–13.3)
Medical specialty6.3 (5.5–7.0)
Other specialty2.9 (2.4–3.4)
Nurse-practitioner6.4 (5.5–7.2)