SCHS and Health Statistics Chandrika Rao, PhD Director, Central Cancer Registry State Center for Health Statistics

Overview Introduction to SCHS Data available SCHS Web Site

SCHS Provides: A source of information for monitoring the health condition of North Carolinians A source for copies of birth and death certificates Analyses of important health issues, such as birth defects and infant mortality A central collection site for information about cancer, birth defects, births, deaths, marriages and divorces

SCHS Provides: Accurate and timely information for use in setting health policy, planning prevention programs, directing resources, and evaluating the effect of health programs and services A safe and secure environment for its confidential records

SCHS Responsibilities Collecting data Producing reports Researching health issues Maintaining a comprehensive collection of health statistics

History of SCHS Created as the North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics by the State Legislature in 1913 The Bureau evolved by 1980 into the State Center for Health Statistics Part of the Division of Public Health, NC Dept. of Health & Human Services

SCHS Branches Birth Defects Monitoring Program Central Cancer Registry Health and Spatial Analysis Statistical Services, including Survey Operations, Vital Statistics & Health Services Analysis Vital Records

Birth Defects Monitoring Program (BDMP) Has collected information about serious birth defects since 1987 Data are collected by field staff who review and abstract medical records Combined with other information from administrative health databases such as hospital discharge records, birth certificates and newborn screening records

Central Cancer Registry (CCR) Cancer was made a reportable disease in NC by the legislature in 1947 CCR established in 1986 Collects, processes and analyzes data on all cancer cases diagnosed among North Carolina residents Primary data source is the hospitals of the state Additional sources include physicians, death certificates and laboratory reports

Health and Spatial Analysis Uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other software to describe and analyze the spatial and temporal relationships that exist among diseases, mortality, births, environments and population characteristics within a public health context

Health Services Analysis Primary data sources are administrative health databases Hospital Discharge HSIS/HIS NC DETECT WIC The North Carolina Disease Event Tracking and Epidemiologic Collection Tool (NC DETECT)

Survey Operations Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program (CHAMP)

Vital Records Legally registers all births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and divorces which occur in North Carolina Codes events for statistical purposes Maintains these records Provides certified or uncertified copies to individuals, researchers, and public health programs

Vital Statistics Produces the annual vital statistics files for data analysis and reporting Provides data for the national Vital Statistics Cooperative Program Works with Vital Records on data quality improvement efforts

Data available from SCHS

Data Available from SCHS Births – since 1913 Deaths – since 1913 Fetal Death Pregnancies Birth Defects Cancer Incidence – since 1990 Survey Data – BRFSS, PRAMS, CHAMP

SCHS Core Publications – old school information “systems” Vital Statistics, Volumes 1 and 2 Basic Automated Birth Yearbook Detailed Mortality Statistics Cancer and Birth Defects Incidence Reported Pregnancies SCHS Studies Statistical Briefs and Primers Health Statistics Pocket Guide

County Level Data Annual Publications Trends in Key Health Indicators County Health Data Book

Publication/Data Release Timeline August BRFSS Data Released* Infant Mortality Statistics* September Vital Statistics, Volume 1* Vital Statistics, Volume 2 (Leading Causes of Death)* Detailed Mortality Statistics* October BABYBOOK* Child Deaths* Reported Pregnancies* November Life Expectancy* Vital Facts* December Population/Health Data by Race/Ethnicity* *Based on events from previous calendar year

Publication/Data Release Timeline January Cancer Incidence for year ending 24 months prior February County Health Data Book* [Note – may be released up to 3 months early once all fall publications are completed] March Statewide and County Trends in Key Health Indicators* - Biennial April Pocket Guide* - Biennial May Local Health Department Survey - Biennial *Based on data published in previous calendar year

SCHS Website http://www.schs.state.nc.us/schs/

Contact Information Eleanor.Howell@dhhs.nc.gov 1908 Mail Service Center Raleigh NC 27699-1908 Phone: 919-715-7475 Fax: 919-733-8485