The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is the US government’s main vital and health statistics agency. It’s part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), itself part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What is the Mission of the National Center for Health Statistics?
The main goal of the NCHS is to improve American citizens’ health through data collection and analysis. These statistics help shape ongoing health policies and guide medical research.
What type of information does the NCHS collect?
The NCHS collects a wide variety of data, including:
- Health status
- Lifestyle
- Onset and diagnosis of illness and disabilities
- Health care
NCHS Data Collection Programs
The NCHS has four major data collection programs:
- National Vital Statistics System
- National Health Interview Survey
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- National Health Care Surveys
These systems all work in conjunction with each other to monitor and improve the general health of US citizens.
Notably, the NCHS also works with NAPHSIS (National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems) on the Vital Statistics Improvement project. This aims to strengthen US statistics infrastructure and support local record offices via training and collaboration.
National Vital Statistics System
The National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) gathers birth and death data at both state and local levels. This monitors teenage births, infant mortality, the leading causes of death, life expectancy, and other relevant statistics.
National Health Interview Survey
The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) selects some households for anonymous interviews to collect medical data. This includes information on chronic conditions, insurance, risk factors, and general demographic information.
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collects data from mobile examination centers and home interviews to track the health of adults and children. They focus mainly on conditions (diagnosed and undiagnosed), growth, nutrition, and environmental exposures.
National Health Care Surveys
The National Health Care Surveys collect data from many health care organizations, such as physician offices, ambulatory surgery centers, hospital departments, and more. They analyze the providers’ services and the wide range of patients they treat to track care trends.
