Receipts totaled $825.7 billion for the 582,733 ambulatory healthcare services establishments in the U.S. in 2012, a significant 23.5 percent increase from 2007, according the U.S. Census Bureau's latest analysis.
Ambulatory healthcare services include outpatient services, such as physician and dentist offices, home healthcare and medical laboratories, but not inpatient care, such as that delivered in hospitals or nursing facilities.
The Census Bureau's report also states employment in this industry experienced a 15.1 percent increase between 2007 and 2012, growing from 5.7 million to 6.6 million. Annual payroll rose 24.3 percent from $274.7 billion in 2007 to $341.4 billion in 2012.
According to the report, physician offices accounted for nearly half (49.1 percent) of ambulatory healthcare services expenditure: $405.7 billion in 2012, a 20.6 percent increase from $336.3 billion in 2007. The number of these establishments grew by 0.6 percent, from 209,148 in 2007 to 210,334 in 2012.
Mental health specialists' employment increased by 12.2 percent from 40,483 in 2007 to 45,433 in 2012, and annual pay increased by 21.2 percent from $1.9 billion to $2.3 billion during this time period.
While still comparably a smaller industry than other ambulatory healthcare services, the home healthcare services industry experienced rapid growth between 2007 and 2012. The number of establishments rose by 30.6 percent, increased expenditures by 39.7 percent and grew the workforce by 30.7 percent.