Indiana’s Behavioral Health Workforce Report Series: Psychiatrists and Psychiatric APRNs

Indiana’s behavioral health workforce is comprised of several licensed health professions which are authorized to provide various specialized behavioral health services. Evaluating this workforce and identifying workforce shortages is crucial and informing workforce development and policy initiatives which address such issues as substance use disorder (SUD) and access to counseling services. Over the last several years, significant strides have been made for collecting comprehensive, accurate and timely workforce data which support longitudinal workforce tracking. This effort has contributed to collaborative dialogue regarding health workforce policy and planning. The enactment of Indiana Senate Act 223 (SEA 223-2018) in January 2019, requires professionals regulated by selected professional licensing boards to provide information regarding employment and practice during the license renewal periods. The Indiana Medical Licensing Board and Indiana State Board of Nursing are two of the boards named in SEA 223-2018, which regulate, among other occupations, physicians and registered nurses (including advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)). This report is issued as part of the Behavioral Health Data Report Series, which highlights key information regarding licensed health professionals who provide behavioral health or psychiatric services. This report will provide summary information regarding physicians and APRNs who report having a practice speciality in psychiatry.

2019 Physician Data Report

Health workforce development strategies in Indiana are important to informing policy and supporting workforce shortage designations. Over the last several years, significant strides have been made to collect comprehensive, accurate and timely health workforce data which are maintained for longitudinal workforce tracking. These efforts have contributed to collaborative dialogue regarding health workforce policy and planning. The implementation of Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 223 (SEA 223-2018) in January 2019 required professionals regulated by selected professional licensing boards to provide information regarding employment and practice during their license renewal periods. The Medical Licensing Board is one of the boards named in SEA 223-2018, specifically affecting allopathic and osteopathic physicians. As a research entity, the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy (Bowen Center) has been committed to and engaged in supporting the State of Indiana with developing sustainable data management processes and publishing timely workforce information.

2018 Annual Impact Report

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.