The National Practitioner Data Bank ( NPDB ) is a database operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that contains medical malpractice payment and adverse action reports on health care professionals. Hospitals and state licensing boards submit information on physicians and other health care practitioners, including clinical privileges restrictions, actions against physicians' licenses, and medical malpractice payments that is kept in the NPDB database. Only authorized users (e.g. hospitals and state licensing boards considering a physician's application for hospital privileges or a state medical license) are permitted by statute to "query" this information in the NPDB.
31-664: The NPDB was created by Congress with the primary goals of improving health care quality, protecting the public and reducing health care fraud and abuse. The NPDB is managed by the Bureau of Health Workforce of the Health Resources and Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . Before May 6, 2013, the Data Bank comprised the National Practitioner Data Bank and
62-898: A country like Australia). Many allied health jobs are considered career ladder jobs because of the opportunities for advancement within specific fields. Allied health professions can include the use of many skills. Depending on the profession, these may include basic life support ; medical terminology , acronyms and spelling ; basics of medical law and ethics ; understanding of human relations; interpersonal communication skills; counseling skills; computer literacy; ability to document healthcare information; interviewing skills; and proficiency in word processing ; database management and electronic dictation. The explosion of scientific knowledge that followed World War II brought increasingly sophisticated and complex medical diagnostic and treatment procedures. Increasing public demand for medical services combined with higher health care costs provoked
93-540: A diploma, associate, baccalaureate or graduate degree in nursing are eligible. Accredited schools of allopathic and osteopathic medicine are eligible for this program which requires loan recipients to serve in primary care. The National Practitioner Data Bank is a clearinghouse that provides information to eligible organizations about malpractice payments, adverse licensure, clinical privilege, and other negative actions taken against health care practitioners and entities. The Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank
124-639: A heavier demand for professions that are employed outside of hospital settings — including allied health. In India, the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions identifies and sets quality standards for 56 professions in diagnostics, therapeutics, community health, and biomedical technology (e.g., physiotherapists, radiologists). In the United Kingdom there are 12 distinct professions who are considered allied health professionals; in combination they account for about 6% of
155-436: A range of technical and support staff they may deliver direct patient care, rehabilitation, treatment, diagnostics and health improvement interventions to restore and maintain optimal physical, sensory, psychological, cognitive and social functions. The allied health professions represent a large cluster of health and care service providers, which usually require specific training and/or certification, but which are distinct from
186-653: A strong nursing workforce. Program funds are used to increase enrollment in nursing programs, expand nursing practice to improve access to primary health care in medically underserved communities, and support efforts to promote the retention of nurses in the workforce. HRSA supports projects that enhance advanced nursing education and practice. This program encourages individuals to serve as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists , nurse educators , nurse administrators or public health nurses. To increase nursing education opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds,
217-457: A trend toward expansion of service delivery from treating patients in hospitals to widespread provision of care in physician's private and group practices, ambulatory medical and emergency clinics, and mobile clinics and community-based care. Changes in the health industry and emphasis on cost-efficient solutions to health care delivery will continue to encourage expansion of the allied health workforce. The World Health Organization estimates there
248-489: Is a part of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) , of the United States Department of Health and Human Services . HRSA programs train health care professionals and place them where they are needed most. Grants support scholarship and loan repayment programs at colleges and universities to meet critical workforce shortages and promote diversity within the health professions. The Bureau
279-587: Is also in some cases available to those who may be suing them. Researchers may also obtain statistical data, but not data on individuals. Public access is available which contains no identifying information. In 2011, this access was removed after someone was able to identify a doctor in the database, but it was restored thereafter. National Practitioner Data Bank [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Health Workforce The Bureau of Health Workforce
310-566: Is currently a worldwide shortage of about 2 million allied health professionals (considering all health workers aside from medical and nursing personnel) needed in order to meet global health goals. In recognition of the growth of the number and diversity of allied health professionals in recent years, the 2008 version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations increased the number of groups dedicated to allied health professions. Depending on
341-696: The Health Professions Council of South Africa (e.g., clinical technologists, dental therapists) or through the Allied Health Professions Council (e.g., massage therapists, chiropractors). Depending on the country and local health care system, the professions that are considered AHPs vary. For example, in some contexts optometrists are not considered AHPs, as the profession has a longer history of primary care practice independent of modern medicine, whereas in others optometrists are identified as falling under
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#1732773011386372-737: The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), the health care industry consists of four main sub-sectors, divided by the types of services provided at each facility: In the US, a larger proportion of the allied health care workforce is already employed in ambulatory settings. In California, nearly half (49.4 percent) of the allied health workforce is employed in ambulatory health care settings, compared with 28.7 percent and 21.9 percent employed in hospital and nursing care, respectively. One source reported allied health professionals making up 60 percent of
403-599: The medicine , nursing and dentistry professions. There is a large demand for allied health professionals, especially in rural and medically underserved areas. AHPs are generally considered distinct from other healthcare service providers on the basis of several factors. These factors may include AHPs offering services in ways which support treatments provided by other healthcare professionals (working either in independent autonomous practice or under direct supervision), or by offering services which other healthcare professionals require but do not provide themselves (for example in
434-950: The AHP umbrella. Similarly, in some health care jurisdictions physiotherapists are not considered AHPs, as they tend to have more autonomy in private practice without the need for medical referral , whereas in other jurisdictions physiotherapists are identified and regulated as AHPs. A limited subset of the following professional areas may be represented, and may be regulated: Some allied health professions are more specialized, and so must adhere to national training and education standards and their professional scope of practice. Often they must prove their skills through degrees, diplomas , certified credentials, and continuing education. Other allied health professions require no special training or credentials and are trained for their work by their employer through on-the-job training (which would then exclude them from consideration as an allied health profession in
465-563: The Act from the list of AHPs, although they may possess degrees or diplomas in health sciences, include the following: Projections in the United States and many other countries have shown an expected long-term shortage of qualified workers to fill many allied health positions. This is primarily due to expansion of the health industry due to demographic changes (a growing and aging population), large numbers of health workers nearing retirement,
496-477: The District of Columbia that provide educational services to students, faculty and practitioners in underserved areas with the aim of increasing the supply of qualified providers in those communities. Through Geriatric Education Centers, HRSA helps educate and train health professional faculty, students and practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease, disability and other health problems of
527-764: The Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank. The two were consolidated by Section 6403 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, Public Law 111–148. In enacting, the National Practitioner Data Bank-enabling legislation, the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986, Congress intended for physicians to receive "full due process rights with notice and representation". (Statement of HCQIA lead sponsor Ron Wyden ) Access to
558-673: The NHS workforce. In 2013 the annual expenditure on services provided by allied health professionals amounted to around £2 billion, although there is a lack of evidence around the extent to which these services improve the quality of care. In the United States, the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professionals uses wording from the Public Health Service Act to list those who are considered to be allied health professionals. Professionals who are excluded under
589-931: The aged. The Public Health Training Centers Program strengthens the workforce by providing fundamental training in the core competencies of public health. The Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Payment Program provides federal support for direct and indirect graduate medical education of interns and residents in freestanding children's teaching hospitals. for primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health clinicians; for primary care medical and dental providers-in-training; for registered nurses and RN students; for health professions faculty from disadvantaged backgrounds; Accredited schools of dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine are eligible. Accredited schools of allopathic or osteopathic medicine, dentistry, optometry , pharmacy, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine are eligible. Accredited schools leading to
620-584: The certification of a physician . Allied health professionals are different from alternative medicine practitioners, also sometimes called natural healers, who work outside the conventions of modern biomedicine. The organization of International Chief Health Professions Officers (ICHPO) developed a widely-used definition of the allied health professions: Allied Health Professions are a distinct group of health professionals who apply their expertise to prevent disease transmission, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate people of all ages and all specialties. Together with
651-448: The fields of medicine , nursing and dentistry . In providing care to patients with certain illnesses, AHPs may work in the public or private sector, in hospitals or in other types of facilities, and often in clinical collaboration with other providers having complementary scopes of practice . Allied health professions are usually of smaller size proportional to physicians and nurses. It has been estimated that approximately 30% of
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#1732773011386682-452: The health professions. HRSA provides grants to institutions to expand the knowledge base of health professionals and support their continuing education. These funds also support students and faculty in programs designed to increase the number of nurses, pediatricians and primary care providers. Main article: Area Health Education Centers Program HRSA supports a network of more than 200 community-based training sites in 47 states and
713-461: The industry's need to be cost efficient, and a lack of sufficient investment in training programs to keep pace with these trends. Studies have also pointed to the need for increased diversity in the allied health workforce to realize a culturally competent health system. Workforce and health care experts anticipate that health services will increasingly be delivered via ambulatory and nursing care settings rather than in hospitals. According to
744-435: The information is limited, and is not available to the general public. It is provided to hospitals, other health care entities, professional societies, state and federal licensing and certification authorities (including Medical and Dental Boards), and agencies or contractors administering Federal or State health care programs. In addition, individual healthcare providers can obtain access to their own records; this information
775-942: The presumed skill level, they may either be identified as "health professionals" or "health associate professionals". For example, new categories have been created for delineating "paramedical practitioners"—grouping professions such as clinical officers , clinical associates , physician assistants , Feldshers , and assistant medical officers —as well as for community health workers ; dietitians and nutritionists ; audiologists and speech therapists; and others. In developing countries, many national human resources for health strategic plans and international development initiatives are focusing on scaling up training of allied health professions, such as HIV/AIDS counsellors, clinical officers and community health workers , in providing essential preventive and treatment services in ambulatory and community-based care settings. With growing demand for ambulatory health care , researchers expect to witness
806-1033: The program provides stipends and scholarships, pre-entry preparation, and retention activities for minority nursing students, pre-nursing students, and students in elementary and secondary schools. The program is designed to increase the number of individuals from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are studying and working in the health and allied health professions . This program also provides support needed to compete, enter, and graduate from health or allied health professions' schools, graduate programs in behavior and mental health, and programs to train physician assistants. The Centers of Excellence Program provides grants to health professional schools to support educational programs of excellence for underrepresented minority students. These programs strengthen our national capacity to train minority students in health professions. HRSA provides funds to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their education and graduation rates and improve their ranks in
837-458: The total health workforce worldwide are AHPs. In most jurisdictions, AHPs are subject to health professional requisites including minimum standards for education, regulation and licensing. They must work based on scientific principles and within an evidence based practice model. They may sometimes be considered to perform the role of mid-level practitioners , when having an advanced education and training to diagnose and treat patients, but not
868-501: The use of medical technologies). The precise titles, roles and requisites of AHPs vary considerably from country to country. For the United States, a generic definition is in the Public Health Service Act , including those with "training, in a science relating to health care, [and] who shares in the responsibility for the delivery of health care services or related services" (other than a registered nurse or physician assistant). In South Africa, AHPs are identified and regulated through
899-591: Was formed in May 2014, by merging the Bureau of Health Professions and Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service . The Bureau of Health Manpower was formed within the U.S. Public Health Service in 1967, absorbing the Division of Nursing, which began in 1899, and the Division of Dental Public Health, which was formed in 1949. From 1968 to 1973, it was part of the National Institutes of Health , and then
930-498: Was merged into the National Practitioner Data Bank as of May 6, 2013, in accordance with 78 FR 20473. Allied health professions Allied health professions (AHPs) are a category of health professionals that provide a range of diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services in connection with health care . While there is no international standard for defining the diversity of allied health professions, they are typically considered those which are distinct from
961-568: Was transferred to the Health Resources Administration. In 1980, it was renamed the Bureau of Health Professions. In May 2014, the Bureau of Health Professions merged with the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service to form the Bureau of Health Workforce. With a national workforce shortage of 1 million nurses projected by 2025, HRSA supports academic and continuing education projects designed to recruit and retain