Information Systems and Research Services
OSCEP created the Iowa Physician Information System in 1974. The tracking system is a continuous inventory of over 5,000 physicians actively practicing in Iowa. Since 1977, OSCEP has been tracking the supply and distribution of Iowa physicians.
In 1994, the Iowa General Assembly approved a state supported program that is designed to augment the state’s efforts to produce primary care doctors. In FY 1995, this Primary Care Initiative was expanded by new measures affecting other health professions and considered to be of value by the legislature and public health agency representatives. Part of the new funds were designated for the purposes of establishing and operating the Iowa Health Professions Inventory, a series of tracking systems which will track Iowa’s physicians, dentists, pharmacists, physician assistants and advanced registered practice nurses. The Iowa Physician Information System served as the model for the creation of the other health professions tracking systems.
The Iowa Health Professions Tracking Systems contain biographical, educational, and professional information for every active Iowa physician, dentist, pharmacist, physician assistant and advanced practice nurse. It characterizes the health professional population (e.g., age, gender, practice arrangements, supply), monitors trends, and facilitates research on the health care workforce. Because the tracking systems are longitudinal, users are able to track changes in supply and geographic distribution.
Advisory committees for each of the health professions have been established to guide development of their respective health professions tracking system. OSCEP looks to these committees for advice on the use of the Iowa Health Professions Tracking Systems. More specifically, the committees provide guidance in the following areas:
- Selection of specific data elements
- Definition of data fields for specific elements
- Identification of data resources
- Adoption of user guidelines and policies
Theresa Dunkin
Division Director