Area Resources File

Data Set: Area Resources File

Collected By: HRSA

• The Area Resource File is a collection of data from more than 50 sources, including: American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, US Census Bureau, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics.
• The ARF is designed to be used by planners, policymakers, researchers, and others interested in the nation's health care delivery system and factors that may impact health status and health care in the U.S.

Key Variables: The ARF contains information on health professions, health facilities, hospitals, vital statistics, population and economics, utilization, expenditures, and health professions training.  For instance, health care professions data include: physicians by detailed specialty and major professional activity, gender, dentists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, data for other major health professions and for health professions training  includes statistics on Medical, Pharmacy, Dental, Optometry and other health professions training schools, schools by county, enrollments, and graduate levels.

Documentation: http://www.arfsys.com/

• Baicker, K. & Chandra, A. (2004). Medicare Spending, The Physician Workforce, And Beneficiaries’ Quality Of Care. Health Affairs Web Exclusive, April 7, 2004.
• Merwin, E. (2003). Shortages of rural mental health professionals.  Archives of Psychiatric Nursing,  17(1), 42-51.