Data Sources

Data Sources

The 10 data sources used to develop the Community Health Profiles and Hospital Profiles:

American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Annual Survey of Hospitals is a national survey of hospital organizations, facilities, services, and finances that has been conducted for decades. Survey responses are compiled and reported annually in the AHA Hospital Guide and AHA Hospital Statistics. Select survey responses can be purchased through the AHA’s Health Forum. The Chicago Health and Health Systems Project purchased information on Chicago hospitals from the AHA.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) is an ongoing data collection program designed to measure behavioral risk factors in the adult population 18 years of age or over living in households. Respondents are randomly selected to participate in the survey through standard telephone-based methods. Results from the 2000 Chicago BRFSS were combined with Chicago Census 2000 data to develop an Estimated Community Risk Score, or an estimate of a community's risk for a variety of health behaviors and outcomes relative to other community areas and the city in its entirety.

Chicago Health System Capacity Data Report (PDF 38k) was developed by CDPH to obtain information from ambulatory care providers for the specific purpose of informing this Project. Based largely on the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s Uniform Data System, the Report collects annual information regarding staffing, patient characteristics and encounters.

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In 2002, data were received from all facility types from which data were requested with the exception of three free clinics that were unable to respond to the data request. Facilities reporting data include 19 publicly operated sites, 57 FQHCs or look alikes, and two free clinics. Data were also collected from five school health centers that do not have data reporting requirements to the Illinois Dept. of Human Services.

Chicago Department of Public Health Global Patient Information System provided encounter data for CDPH’s seven health centers. Additionally, CDPH staff provided annual staffing data by facility.

Cook County Bureau of Health Services (CCBHS) provided capacity and utilization figures on its Chicago-based ambulatory care facilities in operation in 2002. This included 12 ambulatory primary health care centers and six school-based health centers. The data were provided from the CCBHS patient information system.

Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Community Health and Prevention, Office of Family Health’s Annual Report on Illinois School-Based Health Centers provides site-specific encounter data for those centers which they fund. Data are reported by fiscal year. Data for school-based health centers not funded through IDHS are self reported from their respective organizations such as the Cook County Bureau of Health Services or the federally-qualified health center grantee. For 2002, IDHS funded and provided data on 14 of the 19 Chicago school-based health centers.

Illinois Department of Public Health’s Annual Hospital Questionnaire (IDPH AHQ) is a state survey that collects information on yearly hospital utilization, patient demographics, and medical technology. All acute care hospitals licensed in the State of Illinois are surveyed. Hospitals that treat the chronically ill, such as Chicago Shriners, and federal facilities are not surveyed.

Illinois Department of Public Health Electronic Vital Records Data Sets. The IDPH computerizes all birth and death certificates and makes this data available electronically to local health departments and other interested parties.

Illinois Health Care Cost Containment Council’s Uniform Data Set (IH4C UDS)
is an individual patient discharge data set that includes detailed diagnosis and procedure information used in processing insurance claims. Hospitals were mandated by the state to submit these data to the IH4C. The UDS was analyzed, compiled, and sold to researchers and other organizations by the IH4C. In 2002, the IH4C was disbanded by the State of Illinois.

United States Census Bureau enumerates the population of the United States every ten years. This information is made available electronically from their web site.