Overview

The State Center for Health Statistics is a vital part of the District of Columbia Department of Health. It is the central clearing house for vital records and health statistics for the District of Columbia. The Center's mission is to maintain and analyze statistical data on health and vital events that occur in the District of Columbia. This office also serves as the state agent for providing certain health data to other state, local and federal agencies.

The Center collects and analyzes the vital statistics associated with births, deaths, marriages and divorces. In addition, on a monthly and annual basis, the Center receives and analyzes a variety of data from other health and social services agencies.

The Center is responsible for analyzing and publishing information in the form of special reports called Statistical Notes, as well as incorporating selected information into Indicies, the yearly statistical index of the District of Columbia. The Center also has a number of federal contracts and grants to provide birth and death data on the District of Columbia.

The Center's responsibilities are divided among three divisions: the Vital Records Division, the Research and Analysis Division, and the Health Information and Business Systems Division.

Vital Records Division

The Vital Records Division is responsible for collecting, administering and maintaining the District's birth and death records, as well as other critical vital records. In accordance with the Vital Records Division acts as the custodian of the birth and death records for District residents which extend back to 1874.

The Vital Records Division also maintains a close relationship with funeral directors, the Medical Examiner's Office, hospitals, other states and the federal government for the official reporting of deaths.

Research and Analysis Division

The Research and Analysis Division provides the statistical and technical assistance needed to analyze the raw data generated by the Vital Records Division, as well as by other offices in the Department of health. This Division creates birth and death statistical databases and links these databases with other databases to create statistical profiles of the District's population. The Research and Analysis Division conducts research on issues such as infant mortality, abortion rates, birth rates and service utilization data.

Health Information and Business Systems Division

The Health Information and Business Systems Division is responsible for managing the information technology and business systems requirements for the State Center for Health Statistics. This Division's primary functions are: to manage the information technology activities for both the Center and the Department of Health; to manage business transaction for the Center including interagency agreements and revenue generation; and to manage the agency's research library.