Data is at the center of everything we do at the Bowen Center. We rely on data because it is impartial and informative.
Why does data matter?
Data is crucial to what we do because it helps to inform the questions researchers and policymakers may have about the health workforce. For example, how many actively practicing physicians do we have and where do they practice? Are there any areas where there is a severe shortage? After the data answers those questions, solutions can begin to be developed.
About Indiana Workforce Data
Over the last several years, information has been collected from health professionals during online license renewal. Indiana Code 25-1-2-10 requires selected health professionals to report information that is critical to inform state policy and planning activities. The required information includes demographics, education and training, practice information, services provided, and populations served.
Who does SEA 223-2018 Affect?
Indiana Code 25-1-2-10 applies to licensees under the following licensing boards:
• Indiana Medical Licensing Board
• Indiana State Board of Nursing
• Indiana State Board of Dentistry
• Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board
• Indiana State Psychology Board
• Indiana Board of Pharmacy
What is the purpose of collecting this data?
Collecting timely data on the health workforce allows states and researchers to identify workforce trends and have an accurate representation of the workforce. Regular tracking of the health workforce also helps to inform initiatives aimed at workforce development. This could include workforce shortage areas, recruitment incentives, policy/programming, profession-specific initiatives, workforce evaluations, and more.
Where are the data reported?
Our team regularly produces and publishes technical data reports and policy briefs. Technical reports have been helpful to research and planning activities, providing detailed data table and graphs which provide a comprehensive description health professions. On the other hand, policy briefs include graphics and a deep dive into health professions in the context of current Indiana State codes. These resources can be found in the Bowen Library To make information on Indiana’s health workforce even more accessible, we have implemented a new data visualization tool using Tableau. These interactive workforce dashboards make the data on Indiana’s health workforce more dynamic, engaging, and useful.
Why Tableau?
Using Tableau, our team can ensure the information on Indiana’s health workforce is available to stakeholders in a timely, dynamic, and customizable format. Stakeholders can interact with the data to answer their specific questions. The Tableau platform is also able to store longitudinal information, enabling users to visualize trends in the workforce over multiple years.
Need More Info?
If you would like more information about our data collection process, view the metadata available on each dashboard page beneath the visualizations. If the visualizations are not able to answer your question, you can always contact us to submit a data inquiry or email us at bowenctr@iu.edu.
Professions Surveying and Reporting
Filter by: Report Type > Survey Tools. To further narrow your search you may also filter by profession.
Looking for our data resources?
All of our resources can be found in the Bowen Library!
Whether you’re looking for supplemental data collection instruments or workforce reports, you can find these resources by searching among topic areas such as Data Collection and Information Management or Supply, Demand, and Distribution. You can further narrow your search by selecting profession(s) and year published. You can also search by keyword in the search bar.
If you are not able to find what you are looking for, we would love to help. We can help by pointing you to existing resources, answering specific questions, or setting up a special project that fulfills your needs. Fill out our contact form to get in touch.
New Interactive Data Dashboards
Visual, customizable, and interactive.
Visualize and customize Indiana’s health workforce data like never before. Covering areas like demographics, geographic supply, and practice, you can get a broad picture of Indiana’s health workforce, or drill down to get very granular information. The possibilities are endless.
Recent Data Blog Posts
National Rural Health Day: Highlighting Challenges Facing Rural Communities
For National Rural Health Day (Nov. 21), we are highlighting the significant health challenges facing rural communities both in Indiana and nationwide. Rural communities across America face a mounting health care crisis marked by hospital closures, provider...
Celebrating Indiana’s Dental Hygienists: National Dental Hygiene Awareness Month 2024
This October, as we celebrate National Dental Hygiene Awareness Month, the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy recognizes Indiana's dental hygienists - the dedicated professionals who play a crucial role in preventive oral health care and patient...
Decoding Indiana’s Pharmacist Ecosystem
Licensed pharmacists are essential spokes in the health care wheel. In addition to dispensing medication, they collaborate with other health care providers to advise on and ensure medication treatments are safe and effective, and even more. Their roles have expanded...
Mental Health Awareness Week Spotlight: Indiana’s Behavioral Health Workforce
As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Week (Oct. 6-12), and World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10), the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy would like to highlight our ongoing efforts to analyze and strengthen Indiana's behavioral health workforce. Key...
Celebrating Physician Assistants Week: Spotlight on Indiana’s PA Workforce
Scroll to the bottom to check out a data visualization providing a snapshot of the Physician Assistant workforce in Indiana, based on Bowen Center data As we celebrate National Physician Assistants Week (October 6-12), we want to recognize the critical role PAs play...
Rural Health in Indiana: Challenges and Strategies
Bowen's Assistant Director of Data and Research Sierra Vaughn gave a presentation on rural health care in Indiana to the Indiana Rural Health Association on August 1. Mirroring national trends, rural health care in Indiana faces significant challenges. The state has...