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Council presses for better access to health‑workforce data as HB 15-03 (licensure data) and Sentinel surveys go live
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Summary
UW researchers told the Health Workforce Council they cataloged 30 health‑workforce data sources and prioritized key questions; staff reported the HB 15-03 licensure survey is live in HELMS but full statewide data and dashboards will take time and data-sharing agreements. The UW Sentinel (employer) survey opened April 6 and runs about four weeks.
Council members pressed state researchers and program staff for clarity on access and timing for new health‑workforce datasets created since HB 15‑03 and on how existing sources can be integrated for planning.
Samantha Pollock of the University of Washington’s Center for Health Workforce Studies summarized a catalog of roughly 30 data sources relevant for workforce planning in Washington, including state credential/licensure records, national supply and demand sources and labor-market reports. The UW team surveyed about 46 analysts and users to prioritize workforce questions; top supply questions included how many credentialed practitioners are active in the state, while top demand questions focused on vacancy rates by occupation and setting.
“An integrated data system that provides online access would be used frequently by more than three quarters of our respondents,” Pollock said, while noting that many detailed data extracts require institutional approval, data‑use agreements or fees.
HELMS and HB 15‑03 rollout: Chris Holiday (state staff) updated members that the HB 15‑03 licensure questions have been added to HELMS and are live for online applicants and renewals, but paper forms still need updates and full coverage will take time. “The 15‑03 survey is live... it will take over a year, or actually closer to 2 and a half for everyone who needs to take the survey to have taken the survey, and there will be limited data until then,” he said, noting there is no funding yet for a public dashboard and that data sharing will rely on agreements with eligible partners.
Employer signals: Ben Stubbs (UW) reminded the council that the Sentinel/Central Network employer survey opened April 6 and will remain open for roughly four weeks; the survey collects employer-reported vacancies, turnover and topics such as technology and early-career strategies to inform council recommendations.
Council discussion and recommendations: Members asked staff to explore near-term actions to increase accessibility and democratize data use—suggestions included (1) establishing prioritized, publishable data extracts for common questions, (2) convening data owners and funders to reduce duplicated effort, and (3) using trusted regional messengers (AHECs, local hospital associations) to communicate what is allowed under current rules and to pilot access arrangements.
Next steps: UW and agency staff will share the full catalog and prioritized questions with the council, follow up on HELMS timelines and note the limited public availability of detailed HELMS extracts until the renewal cycle matures.
