2018 Annual Impact Report

by | Jul 10, 2019

The health workforce is the foundational element of health care delivery, contributing to priorities such as quality and spending. Health care delivery system reforms cannot succeed without attention to this workforce. The mission of the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy (Bowen Center) is to improve population health by contributing to informed health workforce policy through data management, community engagement, and original research. To achieve this mission, the Bowen Center has partnered with the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

Dissemination of high quality health workforce information is a primary mechanism for promoting health policy discussion among health care leaders in Indiana. The Bowen Center is charged with leveraging health workforce data to conduct needs assessments, workforce evaluations and develop data visualization tools. The center also regularly provides technical assistance to stakeholders throughout Indiana and across the country who submit requests for data collection, analysis and assistance with federal health professional shortage designations. Such efforts aim to inform the work of educators, health care administrators and policymakers.

In order to support the translation of data and research into action, the Bowen Center is committed to providing a forum for stakeholders that supports information sharing, idea generation, and consensus building, and serves as a platform for collaboration with policy makers and community leaders. The center currently provides administrative support and technical assistance to the Governor’s Health Workforce Council, which aims to coordinate initiatives, policies and programs related to the health workforce. This council, led by DWD, provides a forum for research, in-depth discussions and collaborative work that impact health workforce policy and, ultimately, improves population health.

2018 Indiana Primary Care Needs Assessment Report

by | Jul 10, 2019

The Indiana Primary Care Needs Assessment (PCNA) has been critical in the efforts to identify gaps in access to health care and allocate resources to communities in greatest need. This five-year collaborative project between the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy (Bowen Center) and the Indiana State Department of Health Primary Care Office, has encompassed numerous efforts to accomplish these goals. These efforts have included 1) innovation of provider data management, 2) statewide analysis of Health Professional Shortage Areas, and 3) providing resources and assistance to health care administrators and community leaders. The 2018 Primary Care Needs Assessment Report provides a summary of efforts from 2015-2017 and how this project has impacted communities throughout Indiana