BOC to Implement Cross-Profession Minimum Data Set (CPMDS) Data Fields

The BOC is preparing to implement revisions to its data collection processes that align with the Cross-Profession Minimum Data Set (CPMDS). The CPMDS is a national framework designed to establish consistency in the collection of core health workforce data across regulated professions. These revisions will bring the BOC’s data collection standards into alignment with broader health care workforce practices, thereby strengthening the accuracy, comparability and utility of data submitted by Athletic Trainers (ATs).

About the CPMDS
The CPMDS is a set of standardized data elements developed to represent the minimum necessary information required for health workforce planning. The framework establishes uniformity in areas where consistency is essential, such as demographics, while providing flexibility in areas that require profession-specific customization, such as practice setting or specialty. Adoption of CPMDS-aligned fields ensures that individual professions, including athletic training, can be integrated into system-wide workforce analyses without sacrificing profession-specific relevance.

Data Elements to Be Added
The BOC currently collects a range of information from credential holders; however, several new data fields will be incorporated to meet CPMDS alignment standards. These include:

• Employment status
• Employment plans
• Practice location
• Hours spent at primary practice location
• Hours spent in direct patient care

These data points have been identified as essential for consistent reporting across health care professions and will enhance the ability to evaluate workforce participation, distribution and contributions.

Purpose and Rationale
The primary purpose of aligning with the CPMDS is to ensure that athletic training workforce data is collected in a manner that is both comparable across professions and meaningful for regulatory and policy planning. Comprehensive, standardized data is necessary for:

• Identifying and addressing workforce shortage areas
• Informing educational program development
• Supporting regulatory or policy changes
• Forecasting employment trends
• Justifying funding requests

By contributing to a unified data framework, the BOC strengthens the visibility of ATs within national workforce analyses and ensures that the profession is accurately represented in policy discussions and decisions impacting health care delivery.

Further information about the CPMDS can be found in the Healthcare Regulator CPMDS Report.