Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses

01/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/08/2024 22:59

Provider Bridge Information

JOIN PROVIDER BRIDGE TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY RESPONSE
The incidence of emergencies and disasters has increased steadily in the U.S. since the 1980's. In 2023, the United States experienced 25 disasters, including a deadly wildfire in Maui and Hurricane Idalia in Florida. By registering for Provider Bridge, you will join thousands of qualified medical providers who are ready to provide care and contribute to the effective emergency management of these disasters.
Provider Bridge Supports States' Emergency Preparedness and Response

Provider Bridge is a free-to-use technology platform that maintains a comprehensive registry of health professionals that can be accessed expeditiously to prepare for and respond to local, regional, or national emergencies.

Joining the Provider Bridge platform allows you to create and own a time-stamped, digital report ("passport") that includes your name, provider type, professional school and graduation date, NPI, state license number(s), specialty or area of practice, and DEA registration(s), as well as any disciplinary history. Each license is verified via data sharing with the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).

Provider Bridge also allows entities, including state medical and nursing boards, hospitals, health care institutions, public health offices, and emergency management entities to search for verified medical professionals who are willing to assist in an emergency or deploy to a disaster site. Additionally, entities can verify the credentials of state-based registrants as well as those professionals in other states.

Currently, Provider Bridge includes physicians, PAs, and nurses and is positioned to expand to include other medical professionals, such as mental health providers (psychologists, counselors, social workers), respiratory therapists, EMS providers, and others.

Register Now!

Provider Bridge supports expeditious emergency response most effectively by having a large number of medical professionals registered in the platform. Registration is free and takes only a few minutes at the following link: https://provider.providerbridge.org/.

What to Expect After Registering for Provider Bridge

Once you have registered for Provider Bridge, there are no additional steps you need to take. You can generate a certified pdf of your passport to present at an emergency site. Health care entities can add registrants to their provider list, pull Provider Bridge passports, and contact providers (unless a licensee chooses to opt out of allowing entities to find their profile). In the event of a national or state emergency, an entity can reach out to providers to determine if they are available and willing to provide health care services.

For more information, go to https://www.providerbridge.org/ or contact:

Anne K. Lawler, JD, RN
Provider Bridge Program Officer
(208) 331-2341
[email protected]