The Public Health Impact of Vital Statistics

Why Vital Statistics Matter at Local, State, Territorial and National Levels
Vital statistics provide insight into important trends in health, including the impact of chronic conditions, progress on reducing deaths due to motor vehicle accidents, and the evolving challenge of substance abuse. The vital statistics system is a key part of the public health infrastructure, providing the best and most complete information on populations and health outcomes. Investments in the vital statistics infrastructure can improve health, reduce costs, strengthen national security, and increase resilience to outbreaks, disasters and other crises. Vital statistics data guide investments to improve health and help measure the success of those investments. Vital statistics inform public health efforts at the community, local, state and national levels. NCHS partners with 57 jurisdictions across the country to collect, analyze, and share vital statistics data.. Jurisdictions rely on birth and death records for a variety of administrative needs, and also use vital statistics to inform decisions aimed at improving health and healthcare.

Enhancing the Mortality Data Ecosystem

Taking the First Step Towards Improving the Vital Statistics Ecosystem
In September 2016, NCHS launched a project to modernize the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), focused on mortality data and statistics. The project is improving the ability of users from throughout the mortality data ecosystem to access timely and accurate mortality data by exploring financing models for mortality data services; piloting new electronic death registration (EDRS) capabilities; and engaging with stakeholders from local, state, territorial and national levels, including collaborations with other federal agencies and programs to enable needed interoperability changes to become a feasible and sustainable reality.