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NPDB Resources Webinar

The NPDB Resources Webinar was held on June 18, 2024.

Watch the recording for the Webinar exit icon (video - 1:07:24)

Event Materials

Q&As

  1. Does the NPDB offer educational guides on its website?
    Yes. The online Help Center includes infographics about the NPDB and specific topics including practitioners, querying, reporting, registration and more in a visual, easy-to-understand format.

  2. Is NPDB information available to the public?
    The NPDB is prohibited by law from disclosing information to the public. However, the Public Use Data File (PUF) and the Data Analysis Tool (DAT) provide statistical data.

  3. What is the purpose of the Data Analysis Tool (DAT)?
    The DAT generates datasets for Adverse Action Report (AAR) and Medical Malpractice Payment Report (MMPR) data. The second tab at the top of the tool shows the number of unique practitioners for each profession (practitioner type) in the NPDB and the sum of unique practitioners per state.

  4. What information does the Public Use Data File (PUF) contain?
    The PUF contains selected variables from medical malpractice payment and adverse licensure, clinical privileges, professional society membership, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports (adverse actions) received by the NPDB concerning physicians, dentists, and other licensed health care practitioners. It also includes reports of Medicare and Medicaid exclusion actions taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General.

  5. How often is the Public Use Data File (PUF) updated?
    NPDB updates the PUF four times a year to include data for periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of the specified year. The updated file is generally available within 2 months of the listed dates.

  6. Does the Public Use Data File (PUF) contain information that identifies health care practitioners and reporting entities?
    No. The PUF does not include any information that identifies individual practitioners or reporting entities. The file is designed to provide data for statistical reporting and analysis only.

  7. Is it permissible to use data contained in the Public Use Data File (PUF) in combination with other data to identify health care practitioners, reporting identities or patients?
    No. Federal law (42 U.S.C. § 11137(b)) requires the NPDB to present the data in the PUF in a form that does not permit use of the data alone, or in combination with other available information, to identify any particular health care entity, physician, other health care practitioner, or patient. Therefore, as a condition of obtaining access to the data, users agree:
    • to not use the dataset alone or in combination with other data to identify any individual or entity or otherwise link information from this file with information in another dataset in a manner that includes the identity of an individual or entity and
    • to use the dataset only in connection with statistical reporting or analysis

  8. Does the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) recommend citations for information generated using the Data Analysis Tool (DAT) and data provided in the Public Use Data File (PUF)?
    Yes. The recommended citation for the DAT is:
    • Division of Practitioner Data Bank, Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration. Generated using the Data Analysis Tool
    When citing data contained in the PUF, NPDB recommends:
    • Data source: National Practitioner Data Bank (2024): Adverse Action and Medical Malpractice Reports (1990 - March 31, 2024)

  9. How can I locate specific information in the NPDB Guidebook?
    The NPDB Guidebook is divided into broad topical sections:
  10. Does the NPDB support research?
    Yes. Contact the NPDB Research Team to obtain information about the proposal process by sending an email to dpdbdatarequests@hrsa.gov.

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