At a glance
- The National Center for Health Statistics Data Query System features estimates about the U.S. healthcare system.
- Estimates cover healthcare access, capacity, and use.
- Estimates are based on data from the National Health Interview Survey, the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, and other sources.
Healthcare access
Description: People who have a place they regularly go for routine medical care (not the emergency room) are considered to have a usual place of care.
Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.
Available data filters:
- Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
- Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
- Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
Explore NCHS DQS data on the following:
Healthcare capacity
Description: The American Hospital Association defines "bed count" as the number of beds that are regularly maintained (set up and staffed for use) for inpatients as of the close of the reporting period. Bed count excludes newborn bassinets.
Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the American Hospital Association.
Available data filters:
- State
Explore NCHS DQS data on community hospital beds.
Description: A dentist is a medical doctor who treats and prevents tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral diseases.
Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the American Dental Association.
Available data filters:
- State
Explore NCHS DQS data on dentists.
Description: Healthcare employment is presented by selected jobs and professions (occupations). Average healthcare wages represent the total wages that all workers in the healthcare-related occupation earn in an hour divided by the total number of employees in that occupation.
Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Available data filters:
- Occupation
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Health care provided outside of hospitals
Description: A dental exam or cleaning is part of a routine visit with a dentist or dental hygienist to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.
Available data filters:
- Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
- Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
- Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for this topic are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.
Explore NCHS DQS data on dental exam or cleaning.
Description: A doctor visit is an office visit with a doctor or other health care professional.
Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.
Available data filters:
- Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
- Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
- Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for this topic are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.
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Description: Physician office and hospital emergency department visits are those made to physician offices and hospital outpatient and emergency departments.
Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS).
Available data filters:
- Age group
- Sex
- Race
Explore NCHS DQS data on physician office and hospital emergency department visits on the following:
Description: Urgent care centers and retail health clinics are outpatient facilities that provide an alternative place to receive healthcare other than a hospital or physician's office. While urgent care centers often provide care for acute illness or injury, they can also provide preventive care services such as routine vaccinations.
Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.
Available data filters:
- Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
- Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
- Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
Explore NCHS DQS data on the following:
Hospital admissions and stays
Description: Average length of stay refers to the average number of days a patient stays at a hospital facility.
Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the American Hospital Association (AHA).
Available data filters:
- Type of ownership
- Size for nonfederal community hospitals
Explore NCHS DQS data on average length of hospital stay.
Description: Hospital admissions are inpatient hospital stays.
Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the American Hospital Association (AHA).
Available data filters:
- Type of ownership
- Size for nonfederal community hospitals
Explore NCHS DQS data on hospital admissions.
Hospital emergency department visits
Description: A hospital emergency department is a hospital facility that is staffed 24 hours a day and provides unscheduled outpatient services to those needing immediate care.
Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.
Available data filters:
- Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
- Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
- Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for this topic are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.
Explore NCHS DQS data on hospital emergency department visit.
Description: A hospital emergency department is a hospital facility that is staffed 24 hours a day and provides unscheduled outpatient services to those needing immediate care. Visits are categorized by primary diagnosis using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD–10–CM).
Details: The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) provides the NCHS DQS with data on emergency department visits by primary diagnosis.
Available data filters:
- Sex
- Race and Hispanic origin
- Region
- Metro area size
- Primary source of payment
Explore NCHS DQS data on hospital emergency department visits by primary diagnoses:
- All diagnoses
- Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
- Diseases of the circulatory system
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Diseases of the genitourinary system
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
- Injury and poisoning
- Mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders
- Symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings
Description: A hospital emergency department is a hospital facility that is staffed 24 hours a day and provides unscheduled outpatient services to those needing immediate care. Visits are categorized by reason for visits based on the patient's own words.
Details: The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) provides the NCHS DQS with data on emergency department visits by reasons for visits.
Available data filter:
- Sex
- Age group
- Race and Hispanic origin
- Region
- Metro area size
- Primary source of payment
Explore NCHS DQS data on hospital emergency department visits by reason for visit:
- All reasons (patient-reported)
- Back symptoms
- Chest pain and related symptoms (not referable to body systems)
- Cough
- Fever
- Headache, pain in head
- Other symptoms/problems related to psychological and mental disorders
- Pain, site not referable to a specific body system
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach and abdominal pain, cramps, and spasms
- Vomiting
Description: A hospital emergency department is a hospital facility that is staffed 24 hours a day and provides unscheduled outpatient services to those needing immediate care.
Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS).
Available data filter:
- Sex
- Age group
- Intent, either intentional or unintentional
- Mechanism of injury, like cut or pierce, fall, and motor vehicle traffic
Explore NCHS DQS data on hospital emergency department visits related to injury.
Description: Emergency department visits among children are those made by a patient younger than 18 years to a hospital facility that is staffed 24 hours a day and provides unscheduled outpatient services to those needing immediate care. Visits are categorized by reason for visits based on the patient's own words.
Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.
Available data filters:
- Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
- Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
- Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
Explore NCHS DQS data on two or more hospital emergency department visits among children.
Hospital outpatient visits and procedures
Description: A hospital outpatient visit is a visit for medical, dental, or other services at a hospital by a patient who is not currently lodged at the hospital.
Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the American Hospital Association (AHA).
Available data filter:
- Type of ownership
- Size for nonfederal community hospitals.
Explore NCHS DQS data on hospital outpatient visits.
Description: Outpatient surgery is a scheduled surgical service performed on a patient who does not remain in the hospital overnight.
Details: Health, United States (HUS) publishes data from the American Hospital Association (AHA).
NCHS DQS provides estimates of the total number of outpatient surgeries in community hospitals.
Explore NCHS DQS data on outpatient surgery for community hospitals.
Health screenings
Description: A blood pressure check can identify blood pressure outside of a healthy range.
Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.
Available data filters:
- Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
- Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
- Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
Preliminary Data: DQS includes final data from NHIS. More recent preliminary data for this topic are available through the NHIS Early Release Program.
Explore NCHS DQS data on blood pressure check.
Wellness check-ups and visits
Description: A well child check-up is an annual preventive health visit for children to screen for health conditions, track growth and developmental milestones, and provide scheduled vaccinations.
Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.
Available data filters:
- Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
- Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
- Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
Explore NCHS DQS data on well child check-up.
Description: A wellness visit is a preventive health visit for adults that is typically conducted annually to screen for health conditions, evaluate health status, understand risks for specific health conditions, and provide information to improve health.
Details: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides the NCHS DQS with data about this topic from household interviews.
Available data filters:
- Demographic characteristics, like sex and disability status
- Geographic characteristics, like region and metro area size
- Socioeconomic status, like health insurance coverage and poverty level
Explore NCHS DQS data on wellness visit.