Beginning with the 2000 Census, The U.S. Census Bureau allowed respondents to classify their race by selecting a greater number of categories than the traditional five. The Bureau is suggesting the use of about 32 multi-racial categories for reporting. The Center is altering its data collection to allow for the capture of mult-racial categories. Otherwise there will be no denominators to calculate rates.

The NCHS has changed the data items collected and used for health analysis. This includes switching to collect race data in a format consistent with the census data changes. In 2003 the birth and death items that states are asked to collect was revised. Most state and local programs perform their analysis using data, rates formulas and methodologies that are comparable to those of the federal government. As the Center moves toward compliance with collecting these new data elements, there will be new variables with new calculations and new rates being reported. The new birth items have been incorporated in the latest revision of Vital Records's electronic birth registration system.

The funding that the federal government provides for purchasing data and analysis is rapidly diminishing. In recent years the NCHS has not been able to buy full years worth of data from its contracted states. The grants that many other state programs operate with are also diminishing. This will impact the revenue this service area generates from the sale of its products to the federal government as well as to state and local programs.

The Division of Vital Records will be implementing two major changes that will positively impact the timeliness of getting data into the system from which health statistics are derived. The first is an internet based training module for those who complete the death certificates. Effective training will improve the timeliness and accuracy of death data. The second is that the Division of Vital Records has approval to develop an electronic death registration system. This, too, will positively impact the timeliness and accuracy of death data. Both projects are being developed.

The Virginia Center for Health Statistics has a performance based contract with NCHS that obligates collection data in a specific format. NCHS has revised its minimum data sets for birth, death and fetal death systems. The Center will eventually provide data in this new format.

In general, the federal government is seeking increased electronic data connections with state governments. This is in alignment with the current Administration's goal of developing more e-government. The SSA is currently negotiating through the National Association of Public Health Statistics and Information Systems for an electronic verification of vital events. There are discussions about expanding the data on occupation and industry for deaths that are reported to the federal government. The Center currently only supplies data when the death is accidental and job related.

All of the statistical databases are being migrated to VDH’s data warehouse from their current location on VITA’s mainframe. This service area’s statistical data will then be able to evolve into a community access module on which customers will be able to choose from standard reports or select and arrange variables into a custom report. The laws regarding the confidentiality of vital records make security a major issue in the design of the health statistics site on the warehouse. Once all security issues are addressed, data will be more readily available to other VDH programs. There will be a hierarchy of who gets access to variables
that could identify individuals.

The current three volume annual report format will be augmented with a CD version of the report. This will allow for more data per page. It will also allow for more color illustration of maps and graphics.

The Center's website is constantly being expanded. More detailed cancer death information is currently being added. This is in compliance with the service area's contributions to the Cancer Plan Advisory Committee and planned improvement to the surveillance component of that group.

Future reports will have more presentation of data on Asians and Hispanics. This is consistent with an increased interest in these groups as they become a larger segment of Virginia’s population.

The Center is improving the flow of data to the health districts to help as they implement new initiatives aimed at reducing infant mortality for Virginia. Electronic monthly reports are supplied with the latest data available.

The Center anticipates more calls to serve on health related groups, study panels, and advisory boards such as those it currently serves on: Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System CODES (with VHI and DMV), Cancer Plan Advisory Board (CPAC), National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS).

• Annual Report on Health Statistics A three volume set of reports is produced detailing demographics and other characteristics of births, deaths, fetal deaths, induced terminations of pregnancy, marriages, and divorces. The product is sold or distributed free to most of the customers listed in the customer base. Statistics produced are of relevance to the customer base and compiled in a way consistent with analysis being done on the National level. Numbers and rates (where population is available) are produced down to the city/county level of detail. Aggregations are also provided at most levels at which central office planning is performed, i.e. planning district, health region, health district, HMO region, perinatal region, medical examiner region, etc. A report specific to vital events occurring to teenagers is one of the three volumes produced. Reports are available in multiple formats: Hard copy, CD ROM and Spreadsheet format.
• Report on the Health of Minorities An annual report is produced in multiple formats giving detailed race/sex and Hispanic origin data as it relates to health statistics summarized in the Center’s annual reports. Numbers and rates (where population is available) are produced mostly at the health district level. If confidentiality of individuals is not threatened, data are reported down to the city/county level of detail.
• Ad Hoc Reporting System Requests that are not available as a part of the regular reporting systems are produced from the existing databases utilizing tools available to staff. These requests may be for different aggregations, combinations of years or different output formats.
• VCHS Web Site The Center's web site is located on the wider VDH web. This web site contains modules with the most popular tables from the six statistics systems. It also contains maps and graphics on trends and city/county profiles which are summary pages containing the most popular data items from all six vital events. Data on population are also made available as communicated to the center from the census bureau or NCHS.
• Shared Electronic Files A semi-monthly client level vital event data set is produced under contractual agreement with NCHS and SSA. The files are edited and formatted according to contract specifications and transmitted twice monthly. All problems found upon editing of the sent files are resolved. Data are exchanged with all other states under a formal interstate agreement to supply vital event information for residents of their state.
• Data Cleansing/Nosology Activities Selected staff members perform ongoing editing and file maintenance on incoming vital event data ensuring the data collected are of high quality and completeness. The nosology team assists in proper completion of the cause of death on death certificates. The staff processes the information to send to NCHS, which reviews the data for accuracy. Nosology also works closely with the Medical Examiner’s Offices which supply causes of death to complete pending deaths and certificates with incomplete information. VCHS staff assists with processing of computer edits of these systems until a complete and accurate final file is achieved.

Objective Description

The production and distribution of real time health statistics provides data by which Virginia Department of Health can evaluate the success or failure of ther programs in its effort to protect and promote the health of Virginians. Statistics also help to educate Virginia's citizens as to their overall health status.

Objective Strategies

Objective Measures