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

2. Overview
Introduction to SCHS
Data available
SCHS Web Site

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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)

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Data available from SCHS

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

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. SCHS Website

23. Contact Information
1908 Mail Service Center Raleigh NC
Phone:
Fax: