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Healthcare Workforce Data Center

The Department of Health Professions Healthcare Workforce Data Center works to improve the data collection and measurement of Virginia’s healthcare workforce through regular assessment of workforce supply and demand issues among the 80 professions and 350,000 practitioners licensed in Virginia by DHP.

DHP healthcare workforce data is provided online to ensure accessibility of the findings among healthcare decision makers, hospital systems, academic institutions and constituents statewide.

Data Collection

In addition to the online renewal data being collected for healthcare professions, a workforce survey is now being implemented for all initial licensee applicants with the first time implementation of web online applications. Ultimately, workforce data for all professions regulated by the Commonwealth will be obtained through licensure application and renewal surveys with the results reported by the Center on an ongoing basis.

Primary and secondary research for the Department of Health Professions Healthcare Workforce Data Center was a public-private venture through DHP’s collaboration with established research and analysis organizations including, but not limited to: Lacey Research Associates; The Lewin Group; George Mason University; and, Chmura Economics.

Data on www.dhp.virginia.gov/hwdc the official website of the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) Healthcare Workforce Data Center (HWDC) is designed to provide a snapshot of the supply and demand for healthcare workers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. DHP HWDC data combines findings from state and federal government agencies and from the private sector as appropriate to the DHP mission. Interpretation of DHP HWDC research findings is provided through research reports, data cubes and executive summaries posted to the site. Findings are subject to change based on the addition of new data.

Future Goals

With the foundation for the DHP Healthcare Workforce Data Center now in place, 2010 – 2012 goals include evaluation of the findings as a research tool to better understand the characteristics and work behaviors of Virginia’s healthcare workforce.

Advisory Committees

The DHP Healthcare Workforce Data Center was established beginning with an Advisory Council of 17 key stakeholders, advisory committees and workgroups involving 100 + members from respective health professions and data network, to provide advice and expertise with development of the data center, workforce surveys, and reporting information online on this web site.

DHP Healthcare Workforce Advisory Committees and Workgroups include –

• Behavioral Science Workforce Advisory Committee
• CNA Workforce Workgroup
• Dentistry Workforce Advisory Committee
• Healthcare Workforce Information Committee
• Nurse Practitioner Workforce Workgroup
• Nursing Workforce Advisory Committee
• Pharmacy Workforce Advisory Committee
• Physician Assistant Workforce Workgroup
• Physicians Workforce Advisory Committee

The Department of Health Professions was chosen to collect healthcare workforce data in the Commonwealth because the agency has an ongoing repository of licensure information for Virginia’s 350,000 healthcare professionals which includes over 100 healthcare licensee types. DHP has the essential electronic capabilities and ability to effectively conduct workforce policy research and reporting to assist policymakers with tracking the shortages across the Commonwealth and measure the success of strategies to diminish

The mission of the Department of Health Professions is to enhance the delivery of safe and competent health care by professionals, enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to both practitioners and consumers of healthcare services.

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DHP Healthcare Workforce Data Center
E-mail: hwdc@dhp.virginia.gov
Elizabeth A. Carter, Ph.D., Director