The World Wide Web and Health Statistics

United States National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health

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INTRODUCTION

ABOUT HEALTH STATISTICS

FINDING HEALTH STATISTICS

Challenges

Natural Structure

Strategies

Internet Strategies

SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Federal Government Agencies

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Agencies within and outside of the Department of Health and Human Services report statistical series that help us track and understand health.

A complete list of federal government agencies that create health statistics and related data can be found at the Department of Health and Human Services Gateway to Data and Statistics.

Department of Health and Human Services

Researchers often begin their searches by focusing on the agencies of the US Department of Health and Human Services because these agencies consider the reporting of statistical series related to health as a part of their core functions.

The following list provides links to principal web locations within the department where statistical data related to health can be located. This list is linked to the main data and statistics website of each agency.

CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics is the principal agency of the federal government responsible for reporting health statistics. It compiles “statistical information to guide actions and policies to improve the health of our people.”
NCHS statistical series. For Examples of NCHS data series click here.
Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research conducts research on health care delivery and quality. As a part of this work it conducts surveys of health care providers, insurers and the public. For Examples of AHRQ statistical series click here.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . In addition to the extensive health statistics series compiled by its NCHS, CDC also publishes series based on active and passive surveillance.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Publishes statistical series that track participation in Medicare and Medicaid. It also reports on health care expenditures.
Health Resources and Services Administration is “the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.” HRSA assembled statistical data to support this work and makes this data available in its warehouse.

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Last reviewed: 03 January 2008
Last updated: 03 January 2008
First published: 03 January 2008
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