Area Health Resources Files
https://ahrf.hrsa.gov/
ASTHO SOP Toolkit
http://www.astho.org/ScopeofPracticeToolkit/
Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://www.bls.gov/
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation
https://innovation.cms.gov/
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
https://www.cms.gov/
What are some different ways to collect health workforce data?
There are generally 4 methods to collect health workforce data: Licensure Process. Data are collected as part of the licensure process when health professionals apply for their initial license and when they renew, capturing 100% of the workforce. This is one of the most efficient and cost-effective methods to collect data. Some questions on the…
Do I have to ask questions as recommended by the Minimum Data Set (MDS) or can I ask for other information?
The Minimum Data Set (MDS) provides guidelines for collecting basic, minimum, and consistent data on health professionals. These guidelines are not requirements, but they do provide suggestions so that data are collected in a way that is useful for research purposes and comparable across professions and states. Some states ask questions that go beyond the…
What states have implemented the MDS?
Many states are already collecting health workforce data, with a customized MDS in place to collect any additional data they need for health workforce planning. Some examples of states that are already collecting an MDS include North Carolina, Virginia, New York, Indiana, and Minnesota. For more information on which states are collecting data, visit our…
What is the MDS?
The Minimum Data Set, or MDS, provides basic, consistent guidelines for fundamental health workforce questionnaires. These questions can be used by anyone who wants to collect data on the supply of health workers, whether through the licensure process or surveys, and can be adapted for additional professions. MDS questions focus on essential demographic, education, and…
How do you fund health workforce data collection and analysis?
Data systems can be funded through state appropriations, private foundations, grants and contracts, and on a cost-recovery basis. Each funding mechanism has its challenges. State appropriations are tenuous; administrations and priorities change, and budgets get cut. Foundations are often geared to fund initiatives that show more tangible results. Grants are often time-limited. Cost-recovery is subject…