What information does the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) report?

• A. Hospital profit margins
• B. Healthcare regulations
• C. Peer review actions and malpractice
• D. Patient satisfaction surveys

Answer: (C)

The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) is a crucial resource for collecting and disclosing information about healthcare practitioners. It primarily reports on adverse actions related to healthcare professionals, which include peer review actions, malpractice claims, and sanctions against medical licenses. This information is intended to enhance patient safety and quality of care by ensuring that healthcare entities have access to accurate data when considering a practitioner's credentials and history.

By reporting issues like malpractice settlements and adverse peer review actions, the NPDB helps ensure that problematic practitioners can be identified and monitored by hospitals and other healthcare organizations. This supports a more accountable healthcare system where patient safety is prioritized. The other options do not align with the NPDB’s focus and mission, as they pertain to unrelated aspects of healthcare economics, regulations, or patient satisfaction, which are not the focus of the data bank's reporting.