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Figure 1.7: Number of Physician Visits Per 1,000 of the Population, 1985-1998The average number of physician visits increased from 3.5 visits per person in1985 to 5.6 per person in 1997-98. Even though the average number of visits has risen,the drug-mention rate or number of medications mentioned per 100 visits increased from109 in 1985 to 136.9 in 1998. 61 However, the NCHS reported that in 1985, 61.2 percentof doctor visits resulted in a prescription for a drug compared to 61.9 percent of the visits62, 63in 2001.Source: Bernstein AB, Hing R, Burt CW et al. Trend data on medical encounters:Tracking a moving target. Health Affairs. March/April 2001;20(3)58-72.Although the average number of visits has increased, the number of visits when aprescription drug was prescribed has increased from 61.2 percent to only 61.9 percentand the drug-mention rate has increased. Even though the number of visits when at least61 Bernstein AB, Hing E, Burt CW, et al. Trend data on medical encounters: Tracking a moving target.Health Affairs. March/April 2001;20(3):58-72.Bernstein, March/April 200162 McLemore T, DeLozier J. 1985 Summary: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. National Centerfor Health Care Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Advance Data Report No. 128.January 28, 1987. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad128acc.pdf. Accessed January, 2004.63 Cherry DK, Burt CW, Woodwell DA. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2001 Summary.National Center for Health Care Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Advance datareport No. 337. August 11, 2003. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad337.pdf. AccessedJanuary, 2004.18