National Practitioner Data Bank

National Practitioner Data Bank

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Released
Latest version
Update model
Database model
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Website	[npdb.hrsa.gov Official website]

The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) is a United States government database that collects and discloses information about the professional conduct and competence of healthcare practitioners. It was established by the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 and is managed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the NPDB is to improve healthcare quality, protect the public, and reduce healthcare fraud and abuse in the United States. It serves as a repository of information on medical malpractice payments, adverse licensure actions, and certain professional review actions taken against healthcare practitioners, providers, and suppliers.

History

The NPDB was created in response to concerns about the ability of incompetent or unethical healthcare practitioners to move from state to state without disclosure or discovery of their previous damaging or incompetent performance. The Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 was enacted to encourage professional peer review and restrict the ability of incompetent practitioners to move without disclosure of their previous performance.

Data Collection

The NPDB collects information from a variety of sources, including:

• Medical malpractice payments made on behalf of healthcare practitioners.
• Adverse actions related to licensure, clinical privileges, and professional society memberships.
• Certain actions taken by state licensing authorities and professional societies.

Access to the NPDB

Access to the NPDB is restricted to certain entities, including:

• Hospitals and other healthcare entities that conduct peer review.
• State licensing boards.
• Professional societies with formal peer review processes.
• Healthcare practitioners, who can self-query to view their own records.

Impact

The NPDB has played a significant role in improving the quality of healthcare by providing a centralized source of information about the professional conduct and competence of healthcare practitioners. It helps healthcare entities make informed decisions about the hiring and credentialing of practitioners.

Criticism

Despite its benefits, the NPDB has faced criticism regarding its accuracy, the potential for misuse of information, and the challenges practitioners face in correcting erroneous data. There are also concerns about the confidentiality of the data and the potential for it to be used inappropriately.

Also see

• Health Care Quality Improvement Act
• Health Resources and Services Administration
• Medical malpractice
• Peer review
• Licensure