101 - Introduction to Data Sets: National Center for Health Statistics

Jennifer H. Madans, PhD, Associate Director for Science and Co-Acting Deputy Director, CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)What are the leading causes of death in the U.S.? How many Americans smoke? How many Americans are obese? Are emergency departments more crowded than they used to be? The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) collects, analyzes, and disseminates data needed to answer these and many other key questions about health and health care in the United States. As a part of the federal statistical system, the mission of NCHS is to provide statistical information that will guide actions and policies to improve the health of the American people. Collaborating with other public and private health partners, NCHS employs a variety of data collection mechanisms to obtain accurate information from multiple sources. Sources of data collection include: Birth and death certificates, Patient medical records, Personal interviews (in households and by phone), Standardized physical examinations and lab tests. Facility information Using these sources, NCHS produces data on a wide range of health topics such as: Health conditions, Health-related behaviors, Health insurance coverage, Access to and use of health care services, Practice of medicine in the United States, Injuries, Disabilities, Births, including teenage births. Leading causes of death Participants will be introduced to the NCHS portfolio of surveys and data collection systems, types of data that are available, and the mechanisms by which these data are made available for public use