Bowen Center’s Courtney Medlock Presents to Governor’s Public Health Commission on Indiana’s Public Health Workforce

October 21, 2021

Public health commission discusses Indiana’s health care workforce. 

State leaders are looking at ways to improve Indiana’s health care workforce, both in the public and private sectors. The governor’s public health commission discussed the issue during its second monthly meeting Thursday.

Courtney Medlock of the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy at the IU School of Medicine noted the data also shows overall shortages in Indiana of primary care physicians, psychiatrists and long-term care workers.

“In many cases, these shortages have become worse during the pandemic,” Medlock said.

Bowen Center Director, Dr. Hannah Maxey named to Governor’s Public Health Commission

August 18, 2021

The Indiana Department of Health has announced the 12 appointees to the new Governor’s Public Health Commission. Governor Eric Holcomb established the commission last month in an effort to examine the state’s public health system.

“We have the talent and brain power on this commission to achieve our vision of every Hoosier having equal access to essential public health services, regardless of where they live,” Dr. Box said in a news release. “The work we undertake here will lay the foundation for better health for all Hoosiers and ensure Indiana is well-positioned for the future.”

Bowen Center’s Sierra Vaughn Presents to Indiana University’s Center for Rural Engagement regarding the healthcare provider shortage in Rural Indiana

May 4th, 2021

Examine the status of Indiana’s healthcare provider shortage and how it is affecting access to care, particularly for rural residents. Learn how healthcare organizations are currently addressing the shortage and discover strategies that can alleviate the shortage’s impact on current providers and their patients

Indiana Final Report: Assessing State Policies and Practices

Occupational Licensing Learning Consortium
December 2020, 2020

Occupational licensing has emerged as a chief policy issue for state leaders in recent years. While licensing serves as a tool to safeguard public health and safety, it can come with economic and social costs. States are uniquely tasked with harmonizing the  competing interests of maintaining high standards of public health and safety and ensuring that occupational licensing policies do not unduly inhibit economic growth, prevent workforce mobility or disproportionately limit opportunity for certain individuals. 

The Occupational Licensing: Assessing State Policy and Practice project represents a four-year, joint effort by the United States Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, the National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and The Council of State Governments. The 16 states that participated in the project consortium were ultimately the drivers of their own success, (Indiana is one). The results of the project as described in this report demonstrate how state-led efforts, with financial and programmatic support from the federal government, result in successful, effective partnerships
that facilitate meaningful reform and advance state policy.

The Bowen Center was apart of the Indiana Team represented in the original consortium states. The Bowen Center is proud to have been part of Indiana’s data process for many years and to now help other states steward their health workforce data in a meaningful way.

NCSL Occupational Licensing Consortium Case Study Reports

American Institutes for Research
December 29, 2020

AIR worked with the National Conference for State Legislatures (NCSL) and its partner organizations, (including the Bowen Center) the Council of State Governments  and the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices, to conduct case studies of 11 different states that undertook efforts to review their licensing practices. Since 2017, through the Occupational Licensing Policy Learning Consortium, NCSL and its partner organizations have been working on occupational licensing with each state. The states developed action plans and goals to reduce barriers to entry into licensed occupations and improve the portability of licenses across state lines. These plans were then implemented, and goals were refined throughout the last two years, yielding important accomplishments and lessons learned across the Consortium states.

Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS)
December 2020

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS) issued a document on “Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes”. In the section regarding “COVID-19 Management & Response – Workforce Staffing”, the Bowen Center is mentioned for Indiana. They describe our process for connecting facilities with personnel (p 46).

College Students Sought for COVID Support

Inside Indiana Business
December 22, 2020

The Indiana State Department of Health is asking college students who are home on winter break to help in the fight against COVID-19.

In partnership with the Bowen Center, the state is looking for people to help with a long list of tasks, such as serving as substitute teachers, registering people for antibody testing, and making phone calls for contact tracing.

College Students Sought for COVID Support

Fox 59
December 15, 2020

Earlier this week the state reached out to Hoosiers who signed up for Indiana’s Workforce Reserve. The Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy is helping with the reserve effort.

In their recent message to reservists, they had a specific request for availability to support Indiana’s COVID-19 vaccine deployment.

Informing Health Care Workforce Policy By Leveraging Data: A Toolkit For States

National Governor’s Assosication
November 17, 2020

Ensuring an adequately trained and well-distributed health workforce is critical to maintaining the health and well-being of the population. Imbalances in supply and distribution make it challenging for already overburdened providers to meet the needs of their communities and threaten states’ ability to effectively prepare a workforce response in times of public health crises. State policy makers need accurate health care workforce data to assess the supply, demand, and distribution of health care providers and to plan for the future.

The Bowen Center provided information and research that helped to develop this toolkit.

IU School of Dentistry awarded $1.6 million to increase oral health care services in shortage areas

Indiana University
October 9, 2019

The Health Resources Services Administration has awarded the Indiana University School of Dentistry a $1.6 million grant to address oral health care workforce shortages in underserved communities.

The grant, “Strengthening the Oral Health Workforce in Indiana through an Innovative Community-Based Dental Education Model,” is a collaboration among the dental school, the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy at the IU School of Medicine, and the Indiana State Department of Health/State Oral Health Director.

Envisioning an Ideal Health Workforce Data System for California

By Janet M. Coffman, PhD, MPP, and Joanne Spetz, PhD Healthforce Center at UCSF
July 24, 2019

“…The Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, established five years ago as a partnership between the Indiana state government and Indiana University, has established the Bowen Health Workforce Information Portal, which offers interactive county-level maps, data query tools, and data downloads that describe supply and characteristics of workers in six health care occupations.”

Bowen Center cited as a an example of State Health Data Visualization on page 13.

Virtual peer recovery team earns Wellspring Award

IU Health
May 31, 2019

The virtual peer recovery team for IU Health has been recognized for its commitment to service and well-being by the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy.

The team received the inaugural Wellspring Award last week during the 2019 Indiana Health Workforce Summit in Indianapolis.

Peer recovery coaches work in the behavioral health virtual hub, located at 714 N. Senate Ave. They “see” patients virtually who come into emergency rooms for treatment of addiction or overdose. Nurses in the ERs of smaller hospitals around the state connect patients with a care team or coach in Indianapolis via a live video feed on a cart that is rolled into the room.

Dustin Ziegler named 2019 Bowen Center Torchbearer

CICOA
May 21, 2019

Dustin Ziegler is only 35, but he has a clear vision of what aging should look like in Indiana, especially for those suffering from dementia. Ziegler, director of community programs for CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, brought the Dementia Friends movement to Indiana. He worked in partnership with Conner Prairie to create the area’s first Memory Café and collaborated with local emergency responders to help them better treat those with the disease.

Today, Ziegler received the 2019 Bowen Center Torchbearer Award for his leadership to advance policies to improve health and well-being. Ziegler is only the second person to receive the award, which was presented during The Indiana University School of Medicine Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy’s annual Indiana Health Workforce Summit.

Summit to Focus on Healthcare Workforce

Inside Indiana Business
May 21, 2019

The Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy at the Indiana University School of Medicine will Tuesday host its annual workforce summit. The event in downtown Indianapolis will bring together a diverse group of people to discuss complex issues surrounding healthcare workforce. Hannah Maxey, director of the Bowen Center, says discussions will focus on workforce supply and demand as well as various policy-related issues.

“Healthcare workforce policy will not be successful if we don’t bring multiple different types of players to the table,” said Maxey. “We can’t just be on the academic side training physicians or nurses or dentists in a silo apart from what employers need and what our community healthcare needs are so my goal is that this group comes together and that they see the diverse perspectives that are going to be there and they realize that if they’re going to actually move the needle here in Indiana on key health issues and ensure that we can meet the workforce demands in the health sector, that we’re going to have to play in the sandbox with a lot of other people.”

Hospitals use ‘village’ concept to tackle nursing shortage

Ben Lashar, Indianapolis Recorder
May 9, 2019

“The nursing shortage is expected to grow as baby boomers continue entering an age requiring more medical attention at a rate that outpaces enrollment in nursing schools. In addition, 24% of nurses in Indiana are over 55 and nearing retirement, according to a study by Indiana University’s Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy.”

Indiana Rural Opioid Consortium seeking residents’ input to guide opioid use disorder initiatives

Indiana University
May 20, 2019

“Residents in rural Indiana communities are being encouraged to share their perspectives on opioids and substance use disorder through an Indiana Rural Opioid Consortium survey created by an Indiana University faculty member.

The data collected from the survey will be used to plan initiatives addressing substance use disorder in the state.

…The consortium and its planning partners include AgriInstitute, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Fayette Regional Health System, Harrison County Hospital, Indiana Rural Health Association, Indiana University Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, Indiana University Center for Public Health Practice, Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, Indiana University Health Bedford Hospital, Reid Health, Logansport Memorial Hospital, mdlogix Inc. and White Bark Health Academy.”

Indiana University receives grant for rural communities opioid response planning

Indiana University
Feb. 5, 2019

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Three Indiana University centers will receive $45,000 of a $200,000 federal Health Resources and Services Administration planning grant as part of the Indiana Rural Opioid Consortium.

The Indiana Rural Health Association is convening the consortium to collaborate on plans to address opioid abuse in rural Indiana communities. The consortium includes the Center for Rural Engagement at IU Bloomington, the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy at the IU School of Medicine, and the Center for Public Health Practice at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI.

IU School of Dentistry awarded money to bring services to shortage areas

Fox 59
November 1, 2018

According to the CDC, almost 20 percent of children have untreated dental cavities. That’s 31 percent for adults. Although some of us tend to put off going to the dentist, for others, they’re not going because they don’t have access.

To help, the IU School of Dentistry is working to increase services in shortage areas around Indiana, strengthening the oral health workforce, one filling at a time.

…According to an IU press release, the grant called “Strengthening the Oral Health Workforce in Indiana through an Innovative Community-Based Dental Education Model” is a collaboration among the dental school, the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy at the IU School of Medicine, and the Indiana State Department of Health/State Oral Health Director.

Case Study: How Indiana Addresses Its Health Care Workforce Challenges

Kitty Purington and Natalie Williams, THE NATIONAL ACADEMY FOR STATE HEALTH POLICY
November 2018

States across the country are experiencing health care workforce shortages. This issue is rising to the top of many states’ health care priorities, with 12 governors citing workforce shortages as a high priority in their 2018 State of the State addresses. These pressing shortages are influenced by a number of factors, including a growing aging population that tends to utilize more health care, an increasing chronic disease burden, and a misdistributed workforce that can especially impact rural areas.

For states, an adequate workforce is critical on a number of fronts. It can help ensure sufficient access to health care services, addresses critical public health issues such as the opioid crisis, and attract and retain new employers. Addressing state health care workforce challenges requires building new partnerships and taking a cross-agency approach.

Occupational Licensing and Compacts in the Health Sector

National Conference of State Legislators
December 2018

What kind of medical licensing compact would fit your state’s workforce?

Last week, NCSL joined the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices, The Council of State Governments and the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy from Indiana University’s School of Medicine in hosting a Compact Licensure Learning Lab in Indianapolis.

The meeting, part of Indiana’s participation in the National Occupational Licensing Learning Consortium, brought together four national experts to discuss broadly how interstate compacts operate and to provide specific details on three medical compacts: Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure (REPLICA), the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compacts (eNLC) and the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC).

Summit Addresses Indiana Health Workforce, Underserved Rural Communities

WFYI
May 23, 2018

An increasing number of places in Indiana lack a suitable number of health providers. The research was presented at a day-long summit Tuesday discussing Indiana’s health workforce.

The Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy is working to help identify so-called Health Professional Shortage Area designations and break down the needs of the state into rural and urban populations. The study examines three health care areas – primary, mental and dental – and the access Hoosiers have to each of those. Out of the data, one of those health care areas is a problem almost everywhere in Indiana.

As need for nurses rises, Indy college wants to attract students to careers in nursing

Fox 59
February 2, 2018

In an effort to get more students interested in careers in the nursing field, an Indiana college is opening its doors for high school students to experience what it’s like to be a nurse.

“It’s a dire need everywhere,” said Dr. Christopher Bell, the campus president of Chamberlain University Indianapolis. “We have shortages throughout the hospitals and we get recruiters that come to us all the time looking for students even before they graduate.”

…According to the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, registered nurses are the largest professional group within the health workforce, and the demand for nurses is on the rise.

Med school gets a makeover: AMA rethinking standards, and IU’s in the mix

Journal Gazette
December 23, 2018

“The American Medical Association is working with medical schools nationwide to update what – and how – future doctors are taught.

…The AMA’s effort to revamp medical training expanded to 32 medical schools in October as it enters its sixth year. Indiana University’s School of Medicine, one of 12 original participants, has embraced the project at each of its nine campuses, including the one in Fort Wayne.

…The majority of physicians practicing in the state earned medical degrees from IU, Hess said, citing data published last month in a report by the IU School of Medicine Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy.”

Testimony for the Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services

Senator James Merritt
September 27, 2018

The Bowen Center’s maps were cited by Senator James Merritt during a testimony for the Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services on September 27, 2018