More Better Faster

Summary

In this report, industry leaders identify short- and long-term solutions to snags in the vital statistics supply chain. The end goal? Transform the national vital statistics system so that it churns out faster, cleaner data and arms users with the information necessary to address our country’s public health challenges.  

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Background
• Blue Sky: What Success Looks Like
• Factors that Slow the Flow of Data
• Short-term Strategies for Getting to Success
• Where We Go From Here
• Appendix: Timeliness Symposium Participants

Key Takeaway

The release of national data is only as timely as the slowest reporting jurisdiction

The National Center for Health Statistics must receive vital events data from 57 different jurisdictions before it can produce and promote the nation’s official vital statistics. This massive undertaking sometimes takes years to execute, leaving data users — including health care providers, public health professionals, scientists and policymakers — with outdated statistics that may not accurately capture current health trends or intervention efforts.