Data Dictionary Alaska Public Health Data Sources
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Data Dictionary Alaska Public Health Data Sources
Data Dictionary Alaska Public Health Data Sources Updated June 2018 Prepared by: Section of Epidemiology Division of Public Health Department of Health and Social Services State of Alaska Suggested Citation: Data Dictionary: Alaska Public Health Data Sources. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. Released June 2018.
Table of Contents
Alaska Birth Defects Registry (ABDR)………………………………………………………………………..………………. Page 4
Alaska Cancer Registry (ACR)……………………………………………………………………………………….…….…..…. Page 6
Alaska Drowning Surveillance System (AKDSS)……………………………………………………………………….
Su
Su SA Page 7
Alaska Firearm Injury Report Surveillance System (AKFIRSS)………………………………………..….…… Su SA Page 8
Alaska Lead SurveillanceSu
Program……………………………………………………………………………….…...……. Page 9
Alaska Occupational Disease and Injury Surveillance System (AKODISS)…………………………………….. Page 10
Alaska Population Estimates Program…………………………………………………………….………………………… Page 11
Alaska Population Projections Program……………………………………………………….…………………………….. Page 12
Alaska Statewide Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program………………………………………………………….Page 13
Alaska Surveillance, Tracking, and Reporting System (AK-STARS)…...................................................... Page 14
Alaska Trauma Registry (ATR) …………………….....................................................................................
Su SA Op Page 16
Alaska Uniform Response Online Reporting Access (AURORA)……………………….………………………… Su SA Op Page 18
Alaska Violent Death Reporting System (AKVDRS) ……………….……………………….……....………………… Su SA Op Page 19
Alaska Vital Statistics………………………………………..…………………………………………...…………………………. Su SA Op Page 20
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)..………………….......................……………………….. Su SA Page 21
Childhood Understanding Behaviors Survey (CUBS)……………………………………………........................... SA Page 23
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)……………………………………………………………........................... SA Op Page 25
Health Facilities Data Reporting Program (HFDR)……………………………………………….……………………….. Su SA Op Page 26
Informed Alaskans Initiative…………………………………………………………………………………………………… Su SA Op Page 27
InstantAtlas Health Maps…………………………………………………………………………………………………… Su SA Op Page 27
AK-IBIS Health Data………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Su SA Op Page 29
Juvenile Offender Management Information System (JOMIS)………………………………………………. SA Op Page 31
Maternal and Child Death Review (MCDR) Program…………………………………………………………………… Su SA Op Page 32
Office of Children’s Services (OCS)……………………………………………………………………………………….. Page 33
Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)………………………………….……………………….. SA Page 34
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)…………………………………………………………………………… Op Page 35
Student Weight Status Surveillance System (SWSSS)……………………………………….…………………………… Page 36
Syndromic Surveillance (formerly BioSense)………………………………………………….…………………….. Su SA Op Page 38
VacTrAK – the Alaska Immunization Information System………………………………………………………….Page 39
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)………………………….…………………….………………………... Su SA Page 41
Appendix. Section-Specific Links for Requesting Data……………………………………………………………………… Page 43
Symbol Legend
Su =includes data on suicide
SA = includes data on substance abuse
Op =includes data on opioid use
Alaska Birth Defects Registry (ABDR)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Alaska Birth Defects Registry (ABDR) Maternal race is available in bridged race categories.
PURPOSE: CONTACT:
The Alaska Birth Defects Registry (ABDR) is a passive Jared W. Parrish, PhD
surveillance program that collects and provides AK Dept. of Health & Social Services
information on the number of infants with birth MCH-Epidemiology
defects born to Alaska residents. It was established Senior Epidemiologist
in 1996 under the Alaska Administrative Code (7 AAC 3601 C St. Ste 358 | Anchorage, AK 99503
27.012), which requires health care providers, Tel: (907) 269-8068
hospitals, and other health care facilities to report to Fax: (907) 269-3493
the ABDR when they have cared for a child with a Email: jared.parrish@alaska.gov
congenital birth defect. Data from the ABDR are
used to LINKS:
• Estimate the prevalence of congenital anomalies Alaska Birth Defects Registry Website:
within populations and investigate unusual http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/wcfh/Pages/mchepi/abdr
patterns of occurrence; /default.aspx
• Monitor the prevalence of birth defects in
populations with identifiable or preventable Program Data and Reports:
exposures, and determine whether known http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/wcfh/Pages/mchepi/abdr
exposures have increased the risk of birth defects; /Data_Reports.aspx
• Conduct analytic studies of high prevalence
conditions to elucidate possible etiologies and DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
prevention strategies; Although data has been collected since 1996, the
• Provide scientific foundation for evidence-based data processing changed drastically in 2007; thus,
decision making; and current research datasets are available for the years
• Observe and evaluate the effects of interventions 2007-2013. Historical data can be made available
and policy changes. upon special request. Provisional data 2014-current
can also be accessed for special projects with clear
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: understanding of data limitations. All data requests
Data collection has been ongoing since 1996. The can be made by filling out the MCH-Epi Data Request
ABDR program currently has a six year time lag as Form. Currently, no charge is affixed to accessing
providers are allowed to report defects in patients these ABDR data. However, fees may be instituted
up to six years of age. Using a Bayesian approach, for data requests that require extensive analysis and
program staff have reduced the lag in reporting data manipulation, such as integrating with other
statewide prevalence estimates to three years. A data systems.
research dataset from birth years 2007 – 2013 is
available. Historical data from 1996 – 2012 is also
available but strongly advised to use with caution
when making extrapolations due to changes in
surveillance processes. Likewise, provisional data
from 2014 – current can be retrieved and analyzed
for special projects.
Page 4
Alaska Birth Defects Registry (ABDR) TOPICS: All major structural defects, genetic disorders, disorders resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol or other substances, neuromuscular defects, cardiac defects, and all other major and minor birth defects. LIMITATIONS: The ABDR data are obtained through passive data collection from multiple health care providers across the state in the form of International Classification of Disease codes (ICD). Data reporting can be inconsistent, resulting in annual fluctuations that are unrelated to actual disease occurrence. Additionally, ICD codes may not reflect actual diagnosis. To address this issue, ABDR is working at developing adjusted defect prevalence estimates though case sampling, medical records review, and Bayesian adjustment. The ABDR program will not release potentially identifiable data (n
Alaska Cancer Registry (ACR)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: CONTACT:
Alaska Cancer Registry (ACR) David O’Brien, PhD
Public Health Data Analyst
PURPOSE: Cancer Prevention and Control Program
The Alaska Cancer Registry (ACR) is a population- Health Analytics and Vital Records Section
based cancer surveillance system and is funded by Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 3601 C Street, Suite 722
(CDC). ACR collects data on all newly diagnosed Anchorage, Alaska 99503
cases of cancer (including benign brain) for the State Phone: (907) 269-8047
of Alaska. ACR collects a wide variety of information Email: david.obrien@alaska.gov
to determine cancer incidence, mortality, treatment
and survival. The data are used to: LINKS:
• determine the incidence of cancer in Alaska with Alaska Cancer Registry Website:
respect to geographic and demographic http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Chronic/Pages/Cancer/re
characteristics gistry.aspx
• monitor trends over time
• monitor early detection, evaluate the DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
effectiveness of cancer control programs and Aggregated statistics are available on the ACR
identify areas in need of public health website under the section titled “Data and
interventions Statistics”. Resources here include summary data
• determine how Alaska compares with the rest of reports; tables of incidence and mortality data
the Nation aggregated by year, sex, race, and borough/census
• provide a database and serve as a resource for area; and links to national cancer data websites.
health planners, medical professionals, Aggregated statistics not found in these resources
researchers and others concerned about cancer are available by request by filling out a data request
form. De-identified datasets for research projects
The registry operates under several statutes and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) are
regulations required for compliance with the Cancer available by filling out a data use for research
Registries Amendment Act, Public Law 102-515: agreement. Database access is limited to Alaska
Alaska Administrative Code 7 AAC 27.011 - Reporting Cancer Registry staff. For more information, contact
of cancer and brain tumors, and Alaska Statutes Sec. ACR at cancer@alaska.gov.
18.05.042 - Access to health care records.
TOPICS:
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: Cancer diagnosis Cancer treatment
Data collection has been ongoing since 1996 and Cancer incidence Early detection
data are continuously received from healthcare Cancer mortality Patient demographics
providers. Data for each diagnosis year are over 95% Cancer survival
complete and for most years are close to 100%
complete. LIMITATIONS:
One limitation of the registry is that data are
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY: suppressed when the number of cases is less than 6.
Data are available aggregated by race categories of
White, Black, Alaska Native/American Indian, and
Asian/Pacific Islander. Data are available aggregated
by ethnicity categories of Hispanic and non-Hispanic.
Page 6Su SA
Alaska Drowning Surveillance System (AKDSS)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: CONTACT:
Alaska Drowning Surveillance System (AKDSS) Deborah Hull-Jilly, MPH, CLS
Injury Surveillance Program Manager
PURPOSE: Section of Epidemiology, Division of Public Health,
The Alaska Drowning Surveillance System (AKDSS) Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
tracks all drowning deaths that occur in Alaska. The 3601 C Street, Suite 540
system collects demographic information on the Anchorage, Alaska 99503
victim, including name, race, age, body status Phone: (907) 269-8078
(recovered or not recovered), alcohol and drug use Email: Deborah.Hull-Jilly@alaska.gov
at the time of the event, personal floatation device
(PFD) use at the time of the event, and primary and LINKS:
contributory causes of death. It also collects Drowning Surveillance Website:
information regarding the event, including the water Under construction
type (i.e. ocean, lake), the activity in which the victim
Epi Bulletin on Drowning Deaths:
was engaging (i.e. boating, swimming), the primary
http://epibulletins.dhss.alaska.gov/Document/Displa
circumstances of the drowning (i.e. aircraft crash, fall
y?DocumentId=1820
through ice), and any contributing factors that
played a role in the death (i.e. weather conditions,
thin ice). This system, along with the Alaska Violent DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
Death Reporting System (AKVDRS) and the Alaska Data requests can be directed to the Injury
Surveillance Program by email at epi-
Occupational Injury databases, allow for a
injury@alaska.gov or by phone at (907)269-8000.
comprehensive picture of Alaska’s drowning deaths.
TOPICS:
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION:
Boating
Data collection has been ongoing since 2000.
Drowning
Falls through ice
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Fishing accidents
Categories for race in the dataset are as follows:
White, American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African Flooding
Open water
American, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander,
Personal floatation device (PFD) use
Other (specify), and Unknown. The data system also
Swimming
collects information on Hispanic origin.
Page 7Su SA
Alaska Firearm Injury Report Surveillance System (AKFIRSS)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Alaska Firearm Injury Report Surveillance System The reporting form includes check box categories for
(AKFIRSS) race as follows: White, Black, Asian/Pacific Islander,
American Indian/Alaska Native, Other (specify), and
PURPOSE: Unknown. Check box categories for ethnicity are as
The Alaska Firearm Injury Report Surveillance System follows: Hispanic, Non-Hispanic, and Unknown.
(AKFIRSS) tracks firearm injuries occurring in Alaska
through reports from health care providers and CONTACT:
supporting documents, such as newspaper articles, Laura Coughlin
trooper dispatches, and other media sources. Types CDC Public Health Associate
of firearm include handgun, long gun (e.g. rifle, Section of Epidemiology, Division of Public Health
shotgun), pellet gun, BB gun, and paintball gun. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Under Alaska State Statute 7AAC 27.013, all health 3601 C Street, Suite 540
care providers diagnosing or providing treatment for Anchorage, Alaska 99503
a patient with a firearm injury must make a report Phone: (907) 269-8080
within five working days. This report collects Email: laura.coughlin@alaska.gov
information about the patient, including his/her
name, date of birth, sex, race, ethnicity, and LINKS:
residence. It also provides information about the AKFIRSS Website:
injury event, including the setting, the type of http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/injury/Pages/Firearm
firearm used, the intent, the relationship between -Injuries.aspx
victim and shooter, any suspicion of drug or alcohol Alaska Conditions Reportable to Public Health
use at the time of injury, and the circumstances Manual (see page 31 for details on firearm
surrounding the event. It also collects information reporting):
on how the patient was treated (hospitalized, http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/Documents/pubs/co
treated in ER, outpatient, etc.) and the patient’s final nditions/ConditionsReportable.pdf
disposition.
DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
Together with data from the Alaska Trauma Registry
Data requests can be directed to the Injury
(ATR), the Alaska Health Facilities Data Reporting
Surveillance Program by email at epi-
Program (HFDR), and the Alaska Violent Death
injury@alaska.gov or by phone at (907)269 -8000.
Reporting System (AKVDRS), the AKFIRSS provides a
comprehensive picture of firearm injury occurrence
TOPICS:
in Alaska. This, in turn, helps us to better
understand how firearm injuries occur and improve Assault Hunting
prevention efforts. Accidental injuries Shootings
Child playing with weapon Substance use
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: Firearm types Suicide
Data collection has been ongoing since 2003; Firearm injuries Violence
however, due to programmatic changes (i.e. changes Gunshot wounds Weapon cleaning
to the reporting form, location of the form on the Hospitalizations
web, etc.) in 2012, data are more complete for 2012
forward. LIMITATIONS:
Although it is state law for health care providers to
report firearm injuries to the state, AKFIRSS is limited
by provider compliance.
. Page 8Alaska Lead Surveillance Program
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: LINKS:
Alaska Lead Surveillance Program Lead Surveillance Program Website:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/eph/Pages/lead/def
PURPOSE: ault.aspx
Alaska has a comprehensive statewide blood lead
surveillance program and targeted screening DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
program to identify and control sources of lead For data requests that cannot be satisfied through
exposure and assist in the medical management of the available links or to learn how to obtain copies
patients with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs). In of program data, contact the Lead Surveillance
Alaska, elevated lead levels are found mostly in Database coordinators at (907) 269-8000 or
adults, usually as a result of mining occupations, eph@alaska.gov.
casting of lead bullets or fishing weights, or
exposure in shooting ranges. Present efforts are TOPICS:
being directed towards universal screening of Lead exposure
Medicaid eligible children and targeted screening of Blood lead screening
other populations potentially at risk for elevated Blood lead testing
lead exposures. These include occupational and Patient and health care provider follow-ups
non-occupational exposures. In Alaska, follow-up Health education
investigations are conducted for children under age
18 when the initial BLL is 5 µg/dL or higher and for LIMITATIONS:
adults when the initial BLL is 25 µg/dL or higher. For This surveillance program depends on health care
occupational exposures, OSHA (Occupational Safety provider collection of blood samples for lead
and Health Administration) requires follow-ups testing. The population is not screened in a
when BLLs exceed 40 µg/dL. systematic method that aims to collect a
representative sample by region, sex, community,
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: race, or socioeconomic status.
Ongoing mandatory reporting since 1996,
summarized quarterly and annually.
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Infrequently reported
CONTACT:
Stacey Cooper
Environmental Public Health Program
Section of Epidemiology
Division of Public Health
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
3601 C St Suite 540
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 269-8000
Email: Stacey.Cooper@alaska.gov
Page 9Alaska Occupational Disease and Injury Surveillance System (AKODISS)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Alaska Occupational Disease and Injury Surveillance Reporting form includes check box categories for
System (AKODISS) race as follows: White, Black, Asian/Pacific Islander,
American Indian/Alaska Native, Other (specify), and
PURPOSE: Unknown. Check box categories for ethnicity are as
The Alaska Occupational Disease and Injury follows: Hispanic, Non-Hispanic, and Unknown.
Surveillance System (AKODISS) track instances of
occupational injury and illness occurring in Alaska CONTACT:
through reports from health care providers. In Deborah Hull-Jilly, MPH, CLS
doing so, the system allows us to better understand Injury Surveillance Program Manager
workplace hazards and how they occur in order to Section of Epidemiology, Division of Public Health
improve safety conditions for all Alaska workers. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
3601 C Street, Suite 540
Under Alaska State Statute 7AAC 27.017, all health Anchorage, AK 99503
care providers who attend to a patient with a severe Phone: (907) 269-8078
injury or disease that is known or suspected to be a Email: deborah.hull-jilly@alaska.gov
result of the patient’s occupation or work activities
must make a report within 5 working days. Diseases LINKS:
can include pneumoconiosis requiring Occupational Disease and Injury Report Form:
hospitalization, poisoning, or other events. Injuries http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/Documents/pubs/co
can include amputations and thermal, electrical, or nditions/frmOccIllness.pdf
penetrating injuries that require hospitalization. Alaska Conditions Reportable to Public Health
The Occupational Disease and Injury Report Form Manual (see page 32 for details on occupational
collects information about the patient, including disease and injury reporting):
patient name, date of birth, sex, race, ethnicity, http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/Documents/pubs/co
residence, occupation, and industry. In the case of nditions/ConditionsReportable.pdf
occupational disease, it collects information on the
DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
patient’s diagnosis, the date of onset of the illness,
Data requests can be directed to the Injury
the exposure route, and the reason for exposure
Surveillance Program by phone at (907)269-8000 or
(intentional, environmental, etc.). In the case of
by email at epi-injury@alaska.gov.
occupational injury, it collects information on the
type and location of the injury, as well as the TOPICS:
circumstances surrounding the injury event. In both Amputation Occupational Illness
cases, the form records how the patient was treated Animal bites Occupational Injury
(hospitalized, treated in ER, outpatient, etc.) and the Insect bites Penetrating injuries
patient’s final disposition. The information from Electrical injuries Poisonings
these forms is collected and entered into the Environmental exposure Pneumoconiosis
AKODISS database. Hospitalizations Thermal injuries
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: LIMITATIONS:
Occupational injury data from the Fatality Although it is state law for health care providers to
Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program report illnesses and injuries suspected to have
are available as far back as 1992. Data collection on resulted from the patient’s work activities to the
occupational injury and illness has been ongoing state, the system is limited by provider compliance.
since that time.
Page 10Alaska Population Estimates Program
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: CONTACT:
Alaska Population Estimates Program Eddie Hunsinger
State Demographer
PURPOSE: Research and Analysis Section, Alaska Department
The Alaska Population Estimates Program produces of Labor and Workforce Development
annual total population estimates for hundreds of 3301 Eagle St Suite 202
areas in the state, including boroughs and census Anchorage, AK 99503
areas, cities and places, census tracts, Alaska Native Phone: (907) 269-4960
Regional Corporations, School Districts, and Email: eddie.hunsinger@alaska.gov
Legislative Districts. Annual population estimates
are broken down by age, sex, race and Hispanic LINKS:
origin for the state, as well as all boroughs and Alaska Population Estimates Program Website:
census areas. Annual population estimates are http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/pop/index.cfm
broken down by age and sex for all cities and places
with population of 1,000 or more. Population data DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
are used for statutes related to matching funds, All data by age, sex, race and ethnicity are posted on
budget reserve, business licensing, health facility the Web, except "bridged" race categories (these
allocations, Power Cost Equalization, REAA follow the Federal 1977 OMB standard), which are
designations, revenue sharing, rural designations, available upon request.
transportation plans, and other areas.
TOPICS:
Data collection is performed using a combination of Census
census data, annual Alaska Permanent Fund Population
Dividend (PFD) applications, and surveys of military
and group quarters populations. As a result, there is LIMITATIONS:
a high degree of participation, and the population Race data are only available down to the borough
estimates produced by the Alaska Population and census area level. Age and sex data for small
Estimates Program are more detailed, reliable, and areas (census tracts, and cities and places of less
timely than those provided by any other than 1,000 people) are not available.
organization.
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION:
Totals, as well as data by age and sex, are released
and posted on the Web each January. Data by race
and Hispanic origin are released and posted on the
Web each August.
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Web-posted data on race and ethnicity include race
alone and race alone or in combination with one or
more other races (these follow the Federal 1997
OMB standard), and bridged race categories (these
follow the Federal 1977 OMB standard) are available
upon request.
Page 11Alaska Population Projections Program
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: LINKS:
Alaska Population Projections Program Alaska Population Projections Program Website:
http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/pop/projections.cfm
PURPOSE:
The Alaska Population Projections Program produces Alaska Population Projections, 2015 – 2045:
biennial projections by age, sex, and race (Alaska http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/pop/projections.cfm
Native or non-Alaska Native) for the state. Biennial
population projections by age and sex are produced DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
for all boroughs and census areas. These All data by age, sex, and race (Alaska Native or non-
projections are released in April of years ending with native) are posted on the Web.
an even number, and are used by various state,
local, and private organizations for research and TOPICS:
planning purposes. Input data for the population Population
projections models include population estimates, Projection models
vital statistics data, and PFD-based migration data.
As a result, the projections are unbiased. No other LIMITATIONS:
organization regularly publishes population The main limitation of the Alaska Population
projections for Alaska and its regions. Projections Program is that population projections
are inherently uncertain.
CONTACT:
Eddie Hunsinger
State Demographer
Research and Analysis Section, Alaska Department
of Labor and Workforce Development
3301 Eagle St Suite 202
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 269-4960
Email: eddie.hunsinger@alaska.gov
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION:
Released biennially in April of years ending with an
even number.
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Statewide Alaska Native alone or in combination
with one or more races (1997 OMB Standard) are
provided.
Page 12Alaska Statewide Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Alaska Statewide Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program Not reported
PURPOSE: CONTACT:
The Alaska Statewide Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Stacey Cooper
Program was developed in 2002 to collect information Environmental Public Health Program
on mercury exposures among women of childbearing Section of Epidemiology
age in Alaska. The program offers free, confidential Division of Public Health
hair mercury testing to all women of childbearing age Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
and children in Alaska. 3601 C St Suite 540
Anchorage, AK 99503
At high doses, mercury can harm the brain and Phone: (907) 269-8000
nervous system of a developing fetus or young child. Email: Stacey.Cooper@alaska.gov
Most people are exposed to mercury through eating
seafood, especially fish. Because methylmercury LINKS:
increases up the food chain, most exposure occurs Alaska Statewide Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program
through consumption of larger, predatory fish and Website:
marine mammals. Although Alaska has some of the http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/eph/Pages/biom/defa
cleanest fish in the world, some fish species have ult.aspx
mercury levels of potential health concern if eaten in
large quantities by pregnant or breastfeeding women Alaska Statewide Hair Mercury Biomonitoring Program
or young children. The Alaska Statewide Hair Mercury Brochure:
Biomonitoring Program enables women to determine http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/eph/Documents/biom
their own mercury levels, and learn whether dietary /Fish%20Mercury-Biomonitoring%20Program-201505-
changes are needed to reduce their mercury border%20(2).pdf
exposure. Latest Epidemiology Bulletin Describing the Program:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/eph/Documents/bullet
Hair mercury testing can be performed in a matter of ins/docs/b2013_06.pdf
minutes, and is available at the Environmental Public
Health Program office in Anchorage. Hair collection DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
kits can also be ordered from the Environmental For data requests that cannot be satisfied through the
Public Health Program to perform testing in other available links or to learn how to obtain copies of
locations. Testing consists of cutting a small section of program data, contact the Environmental Public
hair from the back of the head near the scalp, placing Health Program at (907) 269-8000 or eph@alaska.gov.
the hair sample in a labeled zip-lock bag, and sending
the sample to the public health lab in a pre-addressed TOPICS:
stamped envelope. Participants receive the results by Mercury exposure
mail usually within one month of the lab receiving the Hair mercury screening
sample. The Environmental Public Health Program Hair mercury testing
performs follow up activities to investigate hair Patient and health care provider follow-ups
mercury levels over 5 parts per million (ppm) and Health education
assists in devising strategies to reduce further
exposure. LIMITATIONS:
The population is not screened in a systematic method
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: that aims to collect a representative sample by region,
Data collection has been ongoing since 2002. sex, community, race, or socioeconomic status.
Page 13Alaska Surveillance, Tracking, and Reporting System (AK-STARS)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: CONTACT:
Alaska Surveillance, Tracking, and Reporting System Megan Tompkins, MPH
(AK-STARS) Information System Coordinator
Infectious Disease Program
PURPOSE: Section of Epidemiology, Division of Public Health
AK-STARS is the database for all non-STD/HIV Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
infectious reportable conditions that are reported to 3601 C St Suite 540
the Section of Epidemiology (SOE) under Alaska Anchorage, AK 99503
Administrative Codes 7 AAC 27.005 and 7 AAC Phone: (907) 269-8014
27.007. Electronic laboratory results, which are Email: megan.tompkins@alaska.gov
generated by hospitals that belong to the Alaska
Health Information Exchange (HIE) and other LINKS:
connected laboratories, flow into this database. Infectious Disease Program Website:
Data are at the individual patient level and could http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/default.aspx
contain demographics, lab test information, certain
risk factor data, and a limited number of CDC MMWR Reports:
environmental conditions (e.g., blood lead). The https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2017.html
database contains statewide data and may include
data on persons diagnosed in Alaska but who are Recent Reports:
residents elsewhere. Regular case notification Infectious Disease Report (Annual):
messages are sent to CDC to populate the MMWR http://epibulletins.dhss.alaska.gov/Document/Displa
reports of nationally notifiable diseases for Alaska. y?DocumentId=1940
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: Tuberculosis (TB) Report (Annual):
AK-STARS was generally brought online in 2012; http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/SiteAssets/Pages/
however, dates of available data vary by condition. TB/TB_Report_2016.pdf
For instance, the database contains all historical
Botulism cases but this is not true of every Alaska Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD)
condition. Additionally, data reliability has changed Surveillance Report (Quarterly):
dramatically over time. For instance, tuberculosis http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/SiteAssets/Pages/
data is most reliable for 2015 forward, but this VPD/AKVPDQtrSurvReport.pdf
varies widely by condition. Increasing tech
capabilities at hospitals combined with Meaningful DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
Use incentives mean that many more facilities have Datasets can be requested through the SOE Data
come online in the past several years, and therefore Request procedure, detailed here:
the proportion of automatic electronic reporting vs http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/Documents/confide
faxed paper reporting has shifted dramatically. ntiality/SOE_ConfidentialityPPData.pdf
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Race information is collected via the electronic
medical record or infectious condition report, or via
patient interviews.
Page 14Alaska Surveillance, Tracking, and Reporting System (AK-STARS)
TOPICS:
AK-STARS includes data on all non-STD/HIV
infectious reportable conditions reported to the
Section of Epidemiology under Alaska Administrative
Codes 7 AAC 27.005 and 7 AAC 27.007. For a full list
of reportable conditions, see
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/Documents/pubs/co
nditions/ConditionsReportable.pdf#page=8.
LIMITATIONS:
Data are for those conditions/cases reported to the
SOE. However, if 10 cases of pertussis are reported
to the SOE in a year, it does not mean that only 10
cases of pertussis existed in Alaska during that year.
Certain diseases are more likely than others to come
to the attention of health care providers and be
subsequently lab-confirmed and/or reported. As a
result, reported counts likely represent the lower
end of the burden of these infectious diseases in
Alaska.
Page 15Su SA Op
Alaska Trauma Registry (ATR)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE:
Alaska Trauma Registry (ATR) Data review and data validation are completed
monthly at a minimum of 10% of cases submitted
PURPOSE: per facility. When the year’s data are completed,
The Alaska Trauma Registry (ATR) collects the ATR Manager exports the dataset into a
information on the most seriously injured patients Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) program to
in Alaska and the treatment they have received. review, clean, and match the multiple admissions.
The information is used to evaluate the quality of When this process is complete, data can be used by
trauma patient care, monitor serious injury, and other agencies and individuals. Annually, the entire
inform injury prevention and trauma system state data set is submitted to the National Trauma
development. It is also used by other agencies and Databank for national review and comparison.
individuals for research and education purposes,
EMS training, and public policy development. DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION:
Data collection has been ongoing since 1991. Data
Since 1991, the Alaska Trauma Registry has collected are summarized annually or in custom time periods.
data from all 24 (22 civilian and 2 Department of
Defense) acute care hospitals. Patients are included IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
in the registry if they are admitted to an Alaska Race information in the ATR is as reported by the
hospital, held for observation, transferred to health care facility. Multiple patient races can be
another acute care facility, declared dead in the reported.
emergency department, or left against medical
advice (in cases in which they would have been CONTACT:
admitted), and for whom contact occurred within Ambrosia Romig, MPH, CLS (ASCP)
30 days of the injury. Injuries included are due to Alaska Trauma Registry Manager
trauma, poisoning*, suffocation, and the effects of Section of Rural and Community Health Systems,
reduced temperatures, in addition to other Division of Public Health
underlying causes. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
3601 C Street, Suite 424
Data collected in the registry include patient Anchorage, AK 99503
demographics, circumstances of the injury event, Phone: (907) 334 - 4471
patient transport, treatment, and outcomes. Data Email: ambrosia.romig@alaska.gov
are collected through the abstraction of medical
records by trained staff at the medical facility itself. LINKS:
Hospitals are able to track their patients Alaska Trauma Registry Website:
concurrently or retrospectively, as long as the data http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Emergency/Pages/traum
are submitted in accordance with the Alaska Statute a/registry.aspx
7AAC 26 745.
National Trauma Data Bank:
https://www.ntdbdatacenter.com/
*Note: Beginning January 1, 2011, the Alaska Trauma
Registry (ATR) discontinued data collection on adult
poisonings, with the exception of work-related and non-
intentional inhalation poisonings. Data on poisonings
among adolescents (≤17 years) continue to be collected.
Page 16Su SA Op
Alaska Trauma Registry (ATR)
DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS: TOPICS:
Trauma care and trauma system research is best Adult maltreatment and Frostbite
performed using data directly from the database neglect Hospitalizations
(unmatched admissions). This information is Animal bites Hypothermia
specifically for the Trauma System Review Asphyxiation and Insect bites
Committee. Injury research and surveillance is best strangulation Machinery injuries
performed using data that has multiple admissions Burns Overexertion
matched (separated out by first, second, and third Cellulitis Patient care
admission), so as to have a unique count of injuries Child maltreatment Poisoning and toxic
per patient-event. No identifying information on syndrome events
patients or providers will be released. Crashes Suffocation
Drowning and near Traumatic Injuries
All data requests must be submitted to the ATR drowning
Manager for review. Any record-level requests for Electrocution
data must be accompanied by a “release of Falls
information” application, study proposal, a signed Foreign body injuries
agreement, and will be granted by approval of the
ATR Manager and/or the Trauma System Review
Committee. Upon approval by the ATR Manager, LIMITATIONS:
and/or the Trauma Program Manager, and/or A limitation of the data system is that it only
Trauma System Review Committee; the Trauma includes patients that meet the specific criteria. As
Registry has up to 30 business-days (excluding a result, patients discharged from the emergency
weekends and holidays), to complete a data department (non-admissions) are not included in
request. Depending upon the complexity of the the ATR. This information can be found using
data request, more complex requests could Health Facilities Data Reporting (HFDR) Program
lengthen this time period. This time period has the data.
potential to be expedited for simpler data
requests.
Page 17Su SA Op
Alaska Uniform Response Online Reporting System (AURORA)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: LINKS:
Alaska Uniform Response Online Reporting Access State of Alaska – AURORA:
(AURORA) http://emsdata.chems.alaska.gov/
PURPOSE: EMS Office:
The Alaska Uniform Response Online Reporting http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Emergency/Pages/ems/
Access (AURORA) system is the Alaska-based public default.aspx
patient care reporting database for certified
Emergency Medical Service providers. AURORA has DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
collected information since 2009 and has over Data requests can be directed to the Office of EMS
100,000 run reports by Alaskan EMS providers. It Manager, Todd McDowell, at
has Quality Improvement tools, pre-made reports todd.mcdowell@alaska.gov.
and extended ability to write custom reports.
TOPICS:
The data provided by AURORA allow the Alaska EMS Trauma
system to: Medical
• Advocate for funding more effectively Emergencies
• Modify training programs to meet the needs of Vital Signs
the EMS system Overdoses
• Identify and anticipate trends in patient care so Unresponsive
the EMS system can grow in a resource efficient Pediatrics
manner
• Allow research and introspection that will LIMITATIONS:
improve emergency patient care and focus injury All information included in this system is HIPPA-
prevention activities protected. Access is limited to protect
• Facilitate comparison of data with other systems confidentiality but is also sent to NEMSIS.org in a
protected process with public portal and state
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: portal access.
Data collection has been ongoing since 2009 and
data are summarized annually.
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Race information is as reported on the EMS run
report.
CONTACT:
Todd McDowell
Office of EMS Manager
Emergency Medical Services Office
Rural and Community Health Systems
Division of Public Health
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
350 Main Street Suite 530
Juneau, AK 99811
Phone: (907) 269-8078
Email: Todd.McDowell@alaska.gov Page 18Su SA Op
Alaska Violent Death Reporting System (AKVDRS)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: LINKS:
Alaska Violent Death Reporting System (AKVDRS) AKVDRS Home Page:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/injury/Pages/akvdrs/de
PURPOSE: fault.aspx
The Alaska Violent Death Reporting System (AKVDRS) is Alaska Indicator-Based Information System for Public
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s state- Health – Indicator Reports: Under construction
based National Violent Death Reporting System Alaska Indicator-Based Information System for Public
(NVDRS). The AKVDRS has collected information since Health – AKVDRS Query Module: Under construction
2003. It uses a standardized procedure in which Alaska AKVDRS Publications:
information on all Alaska residents and occurrent http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/injury/Pages/akvdrs/de
violent deaths are captured in a relational database. fault.aspx
Violent deaths captured include suicide (or self-harm), CDC NVDRS Home Page:
homicide, legal intervention, unintentional firearm http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nvdrs/
injury, overdose deaths, deaths due to undetermined CDC WISQARS-NVDRS:
intent, and deaths resulting from acts of terrorism. Key http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/nvdrs.html
unique documents and reports are accessed and
abstracted for each case and include death certificate, DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
medical examiner records, and law enforcement For data requests that cannot be satisfied through the
reports. Supplemental information includes court available links, contact the AKVDRS Principal
records and medical records. Data are analyzed using Investigator by phone at (907) 269-8078 or by email at
the abstractor’s assigned manner of death per CDC deborah.hull-jilly@alaska.gov, or go to the Section of
guidelines. Information generated by the system is Epidemiology Confidentiality Policies and Procedures
critical for quantifying and tracking the public health and Data Request Protocol (available here).
burden associated with violence and identifying
interventions to reduce this burden. TOPICS:
• Demographics including age, sex, race, region of
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: residence, injury location
Data collection has been ongoing since 2003. Data are • Manner of Death
summarized annually or in custom time periods. • Characteristics of Violent Death including-
Circumstances
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY: Environmental Factors
Race is as reported on the death certificate. Mental Health Circumstances
Life Stressors
CONTACT: Relationship between perpetrator and victim
Deborah Hull-Jilly, MPH, CLS
Principal Investigator / Epidemiologist LIMITATIONS:
AKVDRS Program Availability, completeness, and timeliness are
Section of Epidemiology, Division of Public Health, dependent upon investigation and adjudication
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services processes and information included in reports.
3601 C Street, Suite 540 Toxicology data are not routinely available for all
Anchorage, Alaska 99503 alcohol and drug categories. Protective factor data (i.e.
Phone: (907) 269-8078 circumstances and environmental factors that may
Email: Deborah.Hull-Jilly@alaska.gov reduce the risk for violent death) are available but
limited. See CDC NVDRS Home Page for more
information on abstracted elements.
Page 19Su SA Op
Alaska Vital Statistics
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: LINKS:
Alaska Vital Statistics Health Analytics and Vital Records Website:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/Pages/default.
PURPOSE: aspx
Alaska Vital Statistics data include all vital events that
occur in Alaska, such as births, deaths, marriages, Data and Statistics webpage:
divorce, fetal death, Intentional Termination of http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/Pages/data/de
Pregnancy (ITOP), and the Medical Marijuana fault.aspx
Registry, which are all maintained by the Alaska
Health Analytics and Vital Records Section. Data are DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
comprised of administrative records dating from the Additional information on vital statistics data is
late 1800s to the present, with various degrees of available by special request. There is a $75/hour fee
detail dependent on time period. For identification for special research requests. For more information,
purposes and to ensure statistical reliability, the please contact us at:
Health Analytics and Vital Records Section censors Phone: (907) 465-8604
small counts (generally under 5). Fax: (907) 465-4689
E-mail: HealthAnalytics@alaska.gov
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION:
Data collection has been ongoing since the late TOPICS:
1800s, with varying degrees of detail depending on Birth
time period Death
Divorce
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY: Fetal death
Self-reported on certificates where requested Intentional Termination of Pregnancy (ITOP)
Marriage
CONTACT: Medical Marijuana
Rebecca Topol, SM Vital records
Research Analyst IV
Health Analytics and Vital Records Section
Division of Public Health
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
5441 Commercial Blvd
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 465-8604
Email: Rebecca.Topol@alaska.gov
or
HealthAnalytics@alaska.gov
Page 20Su SA
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: Alaska Indicator-Based Information System for
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Public Health – BRFSS Query Module:
http://ibis.dhss.alaska.gov/query/selection/brfss23/
PURPOSE: BRFSSSelection.html
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
(BRFSS) is the Centers for Disease Control and Alaska Indicator-Based Information System for
Prevention’s state-based public health surveillance Public Health - InstantAtlas:
system for adults (i.e. individuals 18 years of age http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/InfoCenter/Pages/ia/brfs
and older). The Alaska BRFSS has collected s/maps.aspx
information since 1991. It uses a random sample
procedure in which all Alaskan households with a CDC BRFSS Home Page: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/
telephone (land-line or cellular) have a specific
likelihood of being selected. Stratified random DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
sampling is used to ensure regional representation. For data requests that cannot be satisfied through
After being collected, data are weighted to assure a the available links or to learn how to obtain copies
balanced representation of various subgroups and of the BRFSS data files, contact the BRFSS
to reflect the total population of each area. Coordinator by calling (907)465-8540 or by emailing
BRFSS@alaska.gov.
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION:
Data collection has been ongoing since 1991 and is TOPICS:
reported annually. Adverse Childhood Health care provider
Experiences (ACEs) Health status
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY: Alcohol consumption Healthy days
Data are available in bridged race categories. Anxiety and depression HIV/AIDS
Asthma Immunization
CONTACT: Cardiovascular disease Injury
Aulasa Liendo, MA, MPH Child health insurance Marijuana use
BRFSS Coordinator Cancer screening Mental health
Section of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Chronic diseases Nutrition
Promotion, Division of Public Health, Demographics Oral health
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Diabetes Obesity
3601 C Street, Suite 722 Disability Seatbelt use
Anchorage, Alaska 99503 Drinking and driving Sexual violence and
Phone: (907) 465-8540 Emotional support and intimate partner
Email: Aulasa.liendo@alaska.gov life satisfaction violence
Exercise Smokeless tobacco use
LINKS: Falls Tobacco use
AK BRFSS Home Page: Food security Veteran’s status
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Chronic/Pages/brfss/def Health care access Women’s health
ault.aspx
Alaska Indicator-Based Information System for
Public Health – Indicator Reports:
http://ibis.dhss.alaska.gov/indicator/Introduction.ht
ml
Page 21Su SA
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
LIMITATIONS:
The main limitation of any telephone survey is that
those people without phones cannot be reached
and are not represented. This issue has been
partially addressed since 2011 with the inclusion of
cellular telephones.
In some cases, when responses are stratified by
categories of interest, the denominator in one or
more subgroups drops below 50, producing an
unreliable result. For this reason, data from multiple
years may be aggregated and reported as a multi-
year annual average. This strategy reduces the
impact of variations in the data between years and
improves the precision of the prevalence estimates.
When desired, Alaska data can be age-adjusted
using the US 2000 Standard Population to allow for
comparability with national data.
Page 22SA
Childhood Understanding Behaviors Survey (CUBS)
ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SOURCE: CONTACT:
Childhood Understanding Behaviors Survey (CUBS) Margaret Young, MPH
CUBS Program Coordinator
PURPOSE: Section of Women’s, Children’s and Family Health,
The Childhood Understanding Behaviors Survey Division of Public Health
(CUBS) is a three-year follow-up survey to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Alaska Pregnancy Risk-Assessment Monitoring 3601 C Street, Suite 358
System (PRAMS). CUBS sends a survey in the mail Anchorage, Alaska 99503
to all mothers living in Alaska who completed Phone: (907) 269-5657
PRAMS after their pregnancy and whose infant was Email: Margaret.Young@Alaska.gov
living with them at that time. Phone interviews are
attempted with women who do not respond by LINKS:
mail. About 90 women are sent a CUBS survey CUBS Home Page:
every month. The CUBS program began sending out http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/wcfh/Pages/mchepi/cub
surveys as a three-year follow-up in 2008. CUBS s/default.aspx
asks questions about the 3-year-old child, the CUBS Data Sheets:
mother, and the household. CUBS seeks to inform http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/wcfh/Pages/mchepi/cub
public health program planners, evaluators, and s/data.aspx
policy makers by collecting and disseminating Alaska Indicator-Based Information System for
population-based information related to behaviors, Public Health – CUBS Query Module:
health, health care access, parenting, and school http://ibis.dhss.alaska.gov/query/selection/cubs23/
readiness among young Alaskan children. By using CUBSSelection.html
the methodology of re-interviewing women who
completed a PRAMS survey, CUBS is able to DATA REQUESTS AND DATABASE ACCESS:
evaluate those factors present at birth or early life For data requests that cannot be satisfied through
that increase risk for later adverse childhood the above links, contact the CUBS Coordinator, call
outcomes. CUBS data can be linked to the PRAMS (907) 269-3400, or email mch-epi@alaska.gov.
survey as well as birth certificates.
TOPICS:
CUBS data are weighted to represent the entire Childcare
population of mothers who delivered a baby in Child Life Experiences
Alaska in the calendar year 3-years prior to the year Health & Development
of data collection. Data can be provided by Health Care
geographic region (based on the mother’s residence Injury
at the time of CUBS) and demographic Immunizations
characteristics available from the birth certificate. Maternal Mental Health, Abuse & Stress
Nutrition
DATES/FREQUENCY OF DATA COLLECTION: Oral Health
Data collection has been ongoing since 2008. Parenting & Safety
Analysis datasets are available on an annual basis Socioeconomic Status
after data weighing is complete. Substance Use
IDENTIFICATION OF RACE/ETHNICITY:
Race information is based on maternal race on birth
certificates.
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