Strengthening Vital Records through NPHII

The Tennessee Department of Health is revamping the way they collect vital records from a paper-based system to an electronic system, which will benefit every Tennessee resident. Vital records are the backbone of a wide variety of functions. Vital records are used not only to track births and deaths, but to help monitor the health of citizens and protect information for both individual and national security. Tennessee’s new electronic system will save time and money by replacing an outdated, inefficient paper-based system. Delays and backlogs for records are expected to be minimal.

Improving vital records improves health

Vital records collect health facts to monitor and assess our nation’s health. Birth and death certificates help us learn about the health of our newborns and diseases we are battling. We use the information from vital records to design better public health programs, which help us live longer, healthier lives.

Vital records include registration of births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and divorces. These records further help protect identities by serving as official identification for getting driver licenses, applying for passports, and receiving government benefits such as Social Security and Medicare.

The Tennessee Office of Vital Records, within the Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Policy, Planning and Assessment (PPA), managed more than 221,000 vital records in 2010. To manage and make sense of all this information, a system that is fast and accurate is needed. The new system will improve service to the community and save time and money.