Because the range of jobs in the healthcare field is so complex, network visualization of interrelationships between disciplines can yield insights into just how vast the healthcare system is. Making a network graph to display the range of jobs is quite easy, requiring only one CSV file and a little fiddling with a Google Fusion Table. Here’s how to do it.

The National Uniform Claim Committee (NUCC) Health Care Provider Taxonomy Code Set contains HIPAA-compliant codes for specifying the specialty of a health care provider. Other CMS data products, including the NPPES provider database, use these taxonomy codes for self-reported specialty information. The current version of the taxonomy contains 831 health care job functions, classified according to general type, job classification, and area of specialization.

The healthcare taxonomy code set can be downloaded in CSV format from:

Link: http://www.nucc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107&Itemid=132

You can explore the NUCC Taxonomy through a live network visualization by uploading the CSV file to Google Drive in the form of a Fusion Table. You can increase or decrease the number of taxonomy items shown by selecting a number with the control toggle. You can view the visualization in larger form on Google Drive.

Do you use the NUCC Health Care Provider Taxonomy Code Set for analysis in healthcare? Leave a comment and tell us about it!