Quantifying the value of AMPA membership services.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to quantify the value of current and future Air Medical Physician Association (AMPA) membership services.


METHODS
Three-hundred-ninety-eight AMPA members were contacted by e-mail to participate in ranking AMPA membership services by a perceived numeric value (10 = highest to 1 = lowest), using a web-based survey.


RESULTS
One-hundred-eighteen AMPA members completed the survey. The percentage of respondents having attended the conference and their AMPA-related Conference ranked-value scores were as follows: Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC), 43%, 9.6 +/- 1.9; AirMed International Conference, 9%, 7.8 +/- 4.2; AMTC Pre-conference, 65%, 7.6 +/- 2.5; Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference (CCTMC), 47%, 6.6 +/- 2.6; CCTMC Pre-conference, 37%, 6.6 +/- 2.6; the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) Mid-Year Conference, 6%, 6.4 +/- 4.9; and General Membership meeting, 63%, 5.6 +/- 2.4. Current AMPA Benefit/Service ranked-value scores were as follows: textbook, 8.4 +/- 1.8; voice for physicians, 8.0 +/- 2.3; position papers, 7.9 +/- 1.8; Air Medical Journal subscription, 7.8 +/- 2.1; networking with others, 7.7 +/- 2.4; newsletter, 7.3 +/- 1.9; means to enhance professional credibility, 7.1 +/- 2.5; web site, 7.0 +/- 2.1; voice on Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), 7.0 +/- 2.7; continuing medical education (CME) credits, 6.6 +/- 3.0; conference discounts, 6.4 +/- 2.9; and curriculum vitae builder, 4.9 +/- 2.9. Future AMPA Benefits/Services ranked-value scores were as follows: evidence-based guidelines, 8.6 +/- 1.7; transport database, 7.7 +/- 2.1; malpractice repository, 7.6 +/- 2.2; DVD lectures, 7.4 +/- 2.0; medical director certification, 7.2 +/- 2.9; lobbying, 7.1 +/- 2.4; photo library, 6.4 +/- 2.3; salary and benefits surveys, 6.4 +/- 2.6; speaker's bureau, 6.2 +/- 2.4; and consulting service list, 6.2 +/- 2.4.


CONCLUSIONS
This AMPA survey was useful in prioritizing membership services.
Thomas
Frank
F
Intermountain Life Flight and the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. frank.thomas@imail.org
Fox
Jolene
J
D000328:Adult; D017732:Air Ambulances; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012952:Societies; D014481:United States