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Mission | Background | Advisory Commission | News |
Minority Health Data |
Overview Public health and medical experts agree that better data and better data collection are essential if we are to fully understand, and eliminate, health disparities. Complete, accurate and consistent data can help us better identify and serve at-risk populations. Data can show how disease prevalence, quality of treatment, and health outcomes differ from one community to another. It can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of health programs as well as track progress in eliminating disparities. DHSS Initiatives In 2008 the Department of Health and Senior Services became actively engaged in standardizing race and ethnicity data collection across all of its programs and divisions. Executive Order No. 206 requires DHSS to follow set guidelines in the collection and report of race and ethnicity data. The NJDHSS Race and Ethnicity coding guidelines were published in December 2007. The Department is also working with hospitals to develop better data on race, ethnicity and primary language on the four million patient visits to New Jersey hospitals each year. DHSS Data Standardization –- In 2007, the DHSS Race and Ethnicity Coding Guidelines were released in order to improve the Departments' infrastructure to collect, code, and report racial/ethnic and primary language spoken data. OMMH supported the development of the policy which was developed by the Department's Center for Health Statistics based on the federal OMB 15 standard. The policy provides a uniform standard for the collection and reporting of data by DHSS staff and their grantees. All Departmental programs were surveyed to assess what racial and ethnic data was being collected and the manner in which the data is reported and shared. OMMH will monitor and report the use of these Guidelines to ensure appropriate data collection and reporting methods are continued. Hospital Data –- New Jersey hospitals collect and report discharge data on every inpatient and some outpatients. The New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) and the Department have collaborated to revise procedures to yield consistent reporting of patient race and ethnicity across hospitals. In 2009 the hospitals began collecting data on a patient’s primary language, using standardized reporting codes. The NJHA will train hospital staff on the new procedures. Data by Health Condition The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured Health Data Fact Sheets from the Department’s Center for Health Statistics provide information on diseases and health issues that disproportionately impact race and ethnic minority communities. Cancer Heart Health Infant Mortality |
