Open data sources along with state health vital records information can be used to obtain information and conduct spatial analysis on birth outcomes in your state.
- Birth Outcome tubular data can often be obtained from state health organizations for example, MD DHMH (Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene).
The data sources from American Fact Finder can be used to aggregate birth outcome tabular data within a geography. In order to map birth outcomes information, you will need to join the tabular data to county, census block group or ZCTA (ZIP Code Tabulation Areas) boundaries. Each geographic boundary can be obtained from the United States Census Bureau's American Fact Finder.
- American Fact Finder: Provides demographic data that can be correlated to vital records data.
Other data that can be helpful in your analysis is proximity or access to care. CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicate Services) provides information on health care provider locations and classification of provider services offered. You can filter specific provider types utilizing the classification codes referenced below.
- National Provider Identifier (NPI):List of health care providers from Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- Provider Classification: These codes will be used to filter specific provider types from the NPI (National Provider Identifier).