Use of National Practitioner Data Bank disclosure information for decision making

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Administration
• Medical Licensing Boards
• Health Policy

Background:

• Hospitals, state licensing boards, and managed care organizations utilize the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).
• The NPDB disseminates malpractice payment and adverse action reports on healthcare practitioners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the perceived value and impact of NPDB reports on licensing and credentialing decisions.
• To determine if the NPDB is meeting its legislative objectives for improving healthcare quality.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was conducted among entities that query the NPDB.
• Data collected focused on the utility of NPDB reports in decision-making processes.

Main Results:

• Survey results indicate that NPDB reports provide valuable information.
• This information significantly influences licensing and credentialing decisions made by queried organizations.

Conclusions:

• The National Practitioner Data Bank effectively fulfills its intended role.
• The NPDB contributes to enhancing the quality of healthcare by informing critical practitioner evaluations.