by Guest Author | 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
by Guest Author | Jul 10, 2019
The Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy (Bowen Center) has a rich history of collecting, analyzing and disseminating health workforce data and research for the State of Indiana. These efforts are important to informing health workforce policy and planning initiatives throughout the State. Registered nurses (RNs) are the largest licensed profession within the health workforce. Data on supply and distribution of this profession is critical to informing related initiatives regarding education, training and health care delivery. The 2017 Indiana Nursing Licensure Survey Data Report presents key information collected from the nursing licensure survey administered by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency during the biennial license renewal cycle. As of November 2017, 110,651 RNs renewed their license to practice in Indiana. Of these, 69,685 (63%) self-reported actively practicing in nursing and had a license address in Indiana.
by Guest Author | 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.
by Guest Author | Jul 10, 2019
Determining the supply and distribution of Indiana’s oral health workforce is crucial to understanding the capacity available to meet oral healthcare needs of Indiana citizens. Such data can also be used to inform initiatives aimed at increasing diversity, cultural competency, quality of care, and dental care access in underserved communities . Data presented in this report provide a snapshot of key demographic and practice characteristics for the oral health workforce in Indiana. The 2018 Indiana Oral Health Licensure Survey Data Report presents key information derived from data collected from the dentist and dental hygienist re-licensure survey administered by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) during the license renewal period. In 2018, 4,001 dentists and 4,996 dental hygienists renewed their professional licenses. Of those who renewed their license, 2,697 dentists (67.4%) and 3,521 dental hygienists (70.4%) reported actively practicing and had a valid Indiana license address and were included in this report. Marion County encompasses the largest reported oral health workforce full-time equivalents (FTEs): 376.7 FTE for dentists and 235.2 FTE for dental hygienists. Based on the survey samples, there are significantly fewer oral health professionals available to serve Indiana citizens in rural, less populous counties such as LaGrange, Crawford and Jennings Counties. Additionally, a relatively low proportion of dentists reported offering services to low-income persons (i.e. accepting Medicaid). This report details, 2018 Indiana Oral Health Licensure Survey Data Report, presents a snapshot of data on the dentist and dental hygienist professions to provide stakeholders with information needed to improve the quality and accessibility of oral health care for Indiana residents through policymaking, workforce development, and resource allocation. Additional analyses and reports may be made available upon submission of a technical assistance request at https://family.medicine.iu.edu/hws.
by Guest Author | Jul 10, 2019
The State of Indiana recognizes the importance of strengthening and retaining the behavioral health workforce in order to 1) tackle the opioid epidemic and 2) expand the workforce to areas in greatest need of mental health care. Financial incentives focused on workforce recruitment and/or retention are frequently used as a strategy to increase workforce capacity, reduce turnover, and reduce burnout. Student loan repayment assistance programs are one such strategy. These programs generally offer professionals relief from the administrative and economic stress of repaying student debt in exchange for practicing in underserved areas or with underserved populations for a specified time period.
In 2014, the Indiana Family and Social Services Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) implemented a Mental Health and Addiction Services Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) targeting behavioral health professionals. The Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy (Bowen Center) was contracted by DMHA to perform an evaluation of the LRAP. The primary objectives of the evaluation were to 1) identify successful outcomes associated with the program and 2) determine areas in need of improvement. The following report describes the evaluation methods, discusses results, identifies successes, and offers recommendations for future program improvement
