National Center for Health Statistics
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is the principal health statistics agency of the United States. Its "programs" are actually a series of major surveys and data collection systems that provide a vast amount of information about the health of the American population. These programs are essential for public health planning, policy-making, and research.
The major NCHS data collection programs are:
| • | National Vital Statistics System (NVSS): This is a cooperative program with the states and territories that collects and compiles official vital statistics data, including births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and divorces. This data is the most complete source for information on topics like infant mortality, leading causes of death, and life expectancy. |
| • | National Health Interview Survey (NHIS): This is a large-scale, in-person household survey that collects a wide range of information on the health of the civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. population. It provides data on health status, health insurance coverage, access to and use of health services, and various health behaviors. |
| • | National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): This is a unique program that combines personal interviews with physical examinations, diagnostic procedures, and laboratory tests. NHANES provides detailed information on the health and nutritional status of Americans, including the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed conditions, diet, and environmental exposures. The survey is conducted in mobile examination centers that travel to different locations across the country. |
| • | National Health Care Surveys: This is a family of surveys designed to provide descriptive information about health care providers, services, and patients. It includes several individual surveys, such as: |
| o | National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) |
| o | National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS) |
| o | National Study of Long-Term Care Providers (NSLTCP) |
| • | National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG): This survey provides information on factors affecting birth and pregnancy rates, adoptions, family life, and reproductive health. Data from the NSFG is used to plan health and social services programs. |
| • | NCHS Rapid Surveys System: This system uses online survey panels to quickly collect data on emerging or priority health topics, helping to address timely public health needs and information gaps. |
| • | Data Linkage Program: This program enhances the value of NCHS's data by linking information from its surveys and vital statistics with other data sources, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security records. This allows researchers to answer more complex health-related questions. |
