National Vital Statistics System improvements

Each year, NVSS collects information on 6.5 million birth, death, and fetal death events occurring in the 57 U.S. vital registration areas (50 states, New York City, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories). NCHS also works with each vital registration area and the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS)\ue2\u20ac\u201drepresenting state vital statistics offices\ue2\u20ac\u201dto collect vital registration data and to improve timeliness and data quality.Efforts to improve vital records are ongoing\ue2\u20ac\u201dthey involve NCHS\ue2\u20ac\u2122 support of states in implementing electronic birth and death registration systems and completing the implementation of the 2003 revised standard certificates in all jurisdictions. Electronic birth and death records will improve timeliness of data, allow for transfer of data between states, and integrate vital statistics with public health surveillance systems. As of 2013, NCHS completed the funding of remaining states seeking assistance for development and implementation of a web-based electronic birth registration system (EBRS). Similar progress has not been made with electronic death registration systems (EDRS). As of March 2015, 45 of the 57 vital registration areas have an operating EDRS, although some of these systems are still not operating statewide and many data providers (especially physicians) are not using them to enter death information.factsheet_nvss_improvements.pdfAbout NCHS -- National Vital Statistics System -- Improvements to the NVSS -- Improved Timeliness -- Improved Data Quality -- Using Data for Mortality Surveillance