13% Of Ambulatory Health Care Services Provided In Hospital Outpatient Settings In 2017, Up From 11% In 2009

In 2017, about 12.9% of ambulatory health care services and procedures were provided in hospital outpatient settings, rather than a physician office. In 2009, about 11.1% of such services were provided in hospital outpatient settings.

These services include procedures that can safely be conducted in a physician office or in a hospital outpatient facility. They include services such as diagnostic and screening ultrasounds, drug administration and endoscopy. Between 2009 and 2017, the share of these services provided in outpatient settings changed, as follows:

Level 3 diagnostic and screening ultrasounds provided in outpatient settings rose by 21%, from 20 . . .