Data

The Institute of Medicine’s report, The Future of Public Health, published in 1988, described three core functions of public health: assessment, policy development, and assurance. Later, the Core Public Health Functions Steering Committee developed the framework for the 10 Essential Public Health Services in 1994. State health departments play a pivotal role in accomplishing both the three core functions of public health as well as many of the 10 essential services.  Surveillance and data collection is essential to monitor the health status of a population and to assess effectiveness of interventions and policies.

There are many data resources and surveillance systems maintained by the Utah Department of Health.

  • Communicable Disease and Epidemiology Data and Reports – Find reports on a variety of topics including communicable diseases, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, rabies, cryptosporidiosis, influenza, pertussis, West Nile Virus, healthcare associated infections, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
  • Healthcare Associated Infections Reports
  • IBIS-PH Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health – Utah’s online data query system provides a primary point of access to a variety of data and health surveys available through the Utah Department of Health, including reports, health measures, and numeric public health data.
  • National Violent Death Reporting System – Currently, 32 states participate in the NVDRS, including Utah. The NVDRS collects detailed facts on homicides, suicides, deaths of undetermined intent, unintentional firearm-related deaths, and deaths due to legal intervention.
  • Office of Health Care Statistics (OHCS) – The OHCS tracks inpatient, outpatient and ER discharges; provides comparisons of hospitals in Utah; and oversees the quality and performance of health plans in Utah. Solid contributor in supporting data-related needs for Utah’s health reform initiatives including the All Payer Claims Database.
  • Office of Health Disparities data and reports.
  • Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) –   Find reports containing data not available from any other source on maternal experiences, behaviors, and health of women who have recently given birth to a live infant.
  • Public Health Informatics – Coordinates and supports Utah’s e-health initiative and facilitates development of systematic applications of information, statistics, and computer technology for Utah’s public health surveillance, health service, and learning.
  • Violence & Injury Related Data – Find statistics and reports on topics such as suicide, violent deaths, domestic violence, student injuries, prescription drug overdoses, traumatic brain injuries, and more.
  • Vital Records and Statistics – Statistical information compiled on Utah births, deaths, abortions, marriages and divorces.

Other Helpful Data Resources