Two HRSA data banks were recently recognized as among the “Top 5” information technology achievements in the public service arena by Excellence.gov, an annual awards program that honors computer innovation in the Federal government.
 
HRSA’s National Practitioner Data Bank - Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (NPDB-HIPDB) program received the honor for its role in providing timely access by authorized health care organizations to vital career information on physicians, dentists and other health care practitioners, providers and suppliers.  Available data include specific disciplinary and medical malpractice payment information, which health care organizations use with other primary source information to make determinations on hiring, licensing, certification, privileging and contracting.  In 2003, almost four million requests for information were processed by the NPDB-HIPDB program, which is administered by the Division of Practitioner Data Banks in HRSA’s Bureau of Health Professions.
 
Sponsored by the Federal Chief Information Officers Council and the American Council for Technology’s Industry Advisory Council, which represents 450 member information technology companies, the Excellence.gov program each year recognizes the best practices in Federal “E-Government” applications.  More than 90 entries competed for the top honors, and the data bank program and four other honorees were selected from a group of 25 finalists.  A panel of judges composed of representatives from government and industry selected the finalists, using criteria such as demonstration of measurable results, degree of project innovation, and impact on the agency’s ability to fulfill its mission.
 
For more information about the NPDB-HIPDB, visit the program’s Web site at www.npdb-hipdb.com.