A total of 23,026 physician licenses were issue d or renewed in 2011. Nearly all of these licenses were renewed electronically (21,400) and given the opportunity to respond to a brief survey. The survey received a 90.7 percent response rate. Of the 19,326 physicians who responded to the survey, 10,927 were determined to be practicing in Indiana and, out of these respondents, 10,289 met the criteria for inclusion in this report.
Since 1997, licenses were renewed by mail and a paper questionnaire was included with the physician license renewal form. Beginning in 2003, Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) began on-line license renewals. Since then, all Indiana physicians who renewed their license on-line were asked to complete an online survey instrument. This report summarizes the responses to the 2009 Indiana Physician Survey and compares them to the results of prior physician surveys reported in the Indiana Physician Survey Databook and the Indiana Physician Re-Licensure Survey reports.
A variety of survey methods have been used since the 1970’s to learn more about the physician supply and distribution in the state of Indiana. Since 1997, a voluntary survey instrument has been attached to the physician license renewal form, which physicians complete every 2 years. Those renewing their licenses online in 2003, 2005 and 2007 were invited to complete the survey. Those renewing their license through the mail were not given the opportunity to complete the survey. The physician survey was implemented through a collaboration of the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA). This report summarizes the responses to the 2003, 2005 and 2007 Indiana Physician Surveys and compares these results to the results of the prior physician surveys reported in the Indiana Physician Survey Databook, 1997 and the Indiana Physician Survey Databook, 2001.
These fact sheets present detailed information on each of Indiana’s 92 counties. Information is provided on population and health system characteristics for each county which is critical to Indiana’s health system for planning and policy development. For each county, population characteristics such as age, race, economic indicators, health status, and education attainment were reported. Health system characteristics were also reported. Health workforce supply, healthcare facilities, and health professions shortages were used to estimate access to health care for each county. Data in each fact sheet provide stakeholders with information needed to improve the quality and accessibility of health care for Indiana residents through policy making, workforce development, and resource allocation. Additionally, fact sheets may be useful to local organizations seeking information for grant proposals or program implementation.
Primary care clinicians are a critical segment of the health care workforce in Indiana. The Institute of Medicine defined primary care as “the provision of integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community.” 1 For this report, a physician was considered a “primary care physician” if their specialty was one of the following: family medicine, general internal medicine, general practice, internal medicine – pediatrics, and general pediatrics. In addition to these physician specialties, physician assistants and nurse practitioners who also provide primary care and are included in this report as part of the group considered to be primary care clinicians. The purpose of this report is to describe the current state of the primary care clinician workforce in Indiana, their demographic characteristics, practice setting, and geographical locations. The geographical locations are presented in different ways for the various stakeholders. The information presented in this report may be useful for projecting future needs given the current number of providers and proportion nearing retirement as well as the geographical areas where special attention may be needed to insure residents have adequate access to primary care clinicians in the future.