Population Health Data available at UCSF
The UCSF Population Health Data Initiative facilitates access to certain national datasets for UCSF researchers. The full list is available here and also noted in the relevant entries below. Researchers interested in accessing these datasets should submit a Population Health and Health Services Data Consultation request.
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Data (CMS)
UCSF PHDI has partnered with the School of Medicine Dean’s Office Technology Services (SOM Tech) to curate a large group of high-value, previously used CMS datasets across UCSF that are now available for research. These datasets include:
- Master Beneficiary Summary Files
- Medicare Provider Analysis and Review
- Chronic Conditions Warehouse
- Medicare Data on Provider Practice and Specialty
- Accountable Care Organizations Provider File
- Part D Event
- and more!
To learn more about this program, see what is available, and access these datasets visit the program website
Claims
- Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) - $HCCI maintains a multi-payer, longitudinal commercial claims dataset covering one third of the employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) population in the United States from 2012-2020.
- IBM MarketScan (formerly known as Truven)De-identified commercial claims (inpatient, outpatient, emergency and outpatient pharmacy) databases covering more than 50 million covered lives across the US. For more information, including how to access for UCSF researchers visit the population health IBM MarketScan page
- Optum - $Complete claims data and clinical information on 160 million de-identified records
- OptumLabs Data WarehouseUC owned limited Optum dataset; access by proposal only
Demographic
- Bureau of Labor StatisticsLabor market activity, working conditions, occupational health and injuries and price changes
- Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS)Harmonized historical and current demographic data for the US and international census records
- National Death Index - $A centralized database of death record information on file in state vital statistics office
- National Vital Statistics SystemCDC resource for US birth certificate data. UCSF researchers interested in this dataset should request a consultation with CTSI
- US Census Health StatisticsStatistics covering business and people related to health
Economic
- Nielsen - $Economic and retail data
- Panel Study of Income DynamicsMulti-generational household survey data including income, family relationships, and health.
Geographic
- County Health RankingsThe County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a program of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, produces data and reports about United States at a county level.
- Dartmouth Atlas of Health CareThe project uses Medicare and Medicaid data to map information about healthcare spending and use across the United States.
- Geospatial@UCSFUCSF homepage for GIS software including ArcGIS which is freely available for UCSF researchers and comes with built in census and other data layers to enable geocoding health data.
- PolicyMapPolicyMap offers easy-to-use online mapping with data on demographics, real estate, health, jobs and more in communities across the US. There is a free public version as well as subscription options
- State Health FactsState Health Facts is a project of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and provides free health data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States. State Health Facts is comprised of more than 800 health indicators and provides users with the ability to map, rank, trend, and download data.
- Zillow ZTRAXThe Zillow Transaction and Assessment Dataset (ZTRAX) is the nation’s largest real estate database, containing over 400 million detailed deed transfers, mortgages, foreclosures, auctions, property tax delinquencies and more across 2,750+ U.S. counties. UCSF researchers interested in this dataset should request a consultation with CTSI
Healthcare Cost & Quality
- All Payor Claims DatabasePatient claim data for insured patients only
- American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey - $Hospital demographics, operations and utilization data. UCSF researchers interested in this dataset can see a list of what UCSF has should request a consultation with CTSI to access
- American Hospital DirectoryProvides comparative data for most hospitals. The database of information is built from Medicare claims data, cost reports, and other public use files obtained from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, formerly HCFA). UCSF users can find access credentials on the UCSF library catalog page
- Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems - $Patient experience surveys
- Health and Medical Care Archive (HCMA)The data collections in HMCA primarily includes large-scale surveys of the American public about public health, attitudes towards health reform, and access to medical care; surveys of health care professionals and organizations, public health professionals, and nurses; evaluations of innovative programs for the delivery of health care, and many other topics and populations of interest.
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) - $Hospital Care Data. UCSF researchers interested in the Kids Inpatient Database, Nationwide Emergency Dept Sample, National Inpatient Sample, State Emergency Dept Databases, and State Inpatient Databases can see a list of what UCSF has and should request a consultation with CTSI to access
- Health Professionals Shortage AreasCounty level data on health staffing shortages
- Health Resources and Services Administration Data PortalData for improving healthcare to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable.
- Home Health Quality Reporting - $Performance data by home health agencies
- Long Term Care (LTC-Focus)Database from Brown University including health and functional status of nursing home residents, characteristics of care facilities and state policies
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)Payments for medical care, health insurance and self-pay
- National Health Care Surveys: Health Care Providers and SettingsProvision and use of health care in various settings including adult day centers, community health centers, home and hospice care agencies, nursing homes and residential care facilities. UCSF researchers interested in the restricted access version of these datasets should request a consultation with CTSI Includes:
- National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)
- National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS)
- National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS)
- National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery (NSAS)
- National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS)
- National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS)
- National Nursing Assistant Survey (NNAS) - National Hospital Care Survey (NHCS)Patterns of health care delivery and utilization in hospital-based settings
- National Post-acute and Long-term Care StudySupply, provision and use of long-term care services
- United States Census Bureau Health DatasetsVital records for insurance coverage and disease specific data
Health Equity
- Compendium of Federal Datasets Addressing Health DisparitiesThis compendium is a useful resource for exploring data related to socioeconomic factors and social determinants of health. It includes datasets and data-related resources developed, maintained, or funded by federal agencies.
- UC Berkeley Library Resources for Health EquityHealth equity data sets, websites and articles.
Health Policy
- Harvard Catalyst Policy AtlasA database of health policy and public health data for research
- LawAtlas Policy Surveillance ProgramMaps, tables, data, and reports that describe the current state of health laws and how they have changed over time
- National Institutes of Health - National Library of MedicineDigital collections and databases for health policy and services research, searchable by datasets
Public Health & Social Services
- All of Us Data BrowserContains data from the All of Us research program, a national research resource that will eventually include data from 1 million participants drawn from electronic health records (EHRs), biospecimens, surveys, and other environmental and behavioral measures. Summary data is available to the public, researchers can apply for access to more detailed data.
- American Community Survey (ACS)Detailed population and household information from the US Census
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)Health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services
- CDC Summary of Current Surveys and Data Collection SystemsList of CDC surveys
- CDC WonderEpidemiological public health data
- Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related ConditionsNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and alcoholism: Alcohol and Related Conditions Survey
- Gateway to Global AgingHarmonized data from multiple international aging studies
- Health and Medical Care Archive (HCMA)The data collections in HMCA primarily includes large-scale surveys of the American public about public health, attitudes towards health reform, and access to medical care; surveys of health care professionals and organizations, public health professionals, and nurses; evaluations of innovative programs for the delivery of health care, and many other topics and populations of interest.
- Health and Retirement Study (HRS)National longitudinal study of aging adults and partners
- Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA)A multicohort study of persons 70 years of age and over designed primarily to measure changes in the health, functional status, living arrangements, and health services utilization of two cohorts of Americans as they move into and through the oldest ages. UCSF researchers interested in this dataset should request a consultation with CTSI
- National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA)The National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA), located within ICPSR, is funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and houses data relevant to gerontological research. UCSF researchers should share their data using a restricted license. See which data they accept
- National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)Data on late-life functioning in various populations and economic and social consequences of aging and disability
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)Health and nutritional status of adults and children. UCSF researchers interested in the restricted access version of these datasets should request a consultation with CTSI
- National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)Large annual national family health survey. UCSF researchers interested in the restricted access version of these datasets should request a consultation with CTSI
- National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS)Standardized behavioral information on HIV-related risk factors
- National Immunization Surveys (NIS)The National Immunization Surveys (NIS) are a group of phone surveys used to monitor vaccination coverage among children 19–35 months and teens 13–17 years, flu vaccinations for children 6 months–17 years, and COVID-19 vaccination for children and teens in eligible age groups and for adults 18 years and older. UCSF researchers interested in this dataset should request a consultation with CTSI
- National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health)Social, behavioral and biological data
- National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS)Multi-generational cohort studies with health and life event data
- National Survey of Children's HealthPhysical and mental health, access to quality care and demographic and social context for children
- National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)Information on family life, pregnancy and infertility and men's and women's health. UCSF researchers interested in the restricted access version of these datasets should request a consultation with CTSI
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)NSDUH data provide estimates of substance use and mental illness at the national, state, and substate levels. NSDUH data also help to identify the extent of substance use and mental illness among different subgroups, estimate trends over time, and determine the need for treatment services.
- Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)PRAMS collects jurisdiction-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. PRAMS surveillance currently covers about 81% of all U.S. births. UCSF researchers interested in this dataset can can see a list of what UCSF has and should request a consultation with CTSI to access
- Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)SIPP is a nationally representative longitudinal survey that provides comprehensive information on the dynamics of income, employment, household composition, and government program participation.
- WISQUARS: Injury Prevention and ControlFatal and nonfatal injury, violent death, and cost of injury data
- Youth Risk and Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)Health-related behaviors that contribute to death and disability in youth
- National Addiction and HIV Data Archive ProgramThe mission of the National Addiction & HIV Data Archive Program is to facilitate research on drug addiction and HIV infection by acquiring, enhancing, preserving, and sharing data produced by research grants, particularly those funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). UCSF researchers should share their data using a restricted license. See which data they accept
Registry
- Cancer Surveillance Epidemiology and End Research (SEER) dataNational Cancer Institute: cancer incidence data from population-based cancer registries
- Global Alzheimer's Association Interactive Network (GAAIN)An online integrated research platform with shared data and analysis tools for Alzheimer's research.
Search Portals
- Data.govCompilation of federal datasets with links to access data
- Google Dataset SearchSearch engine for datasets, both health and others
- Healthdata.govOpen data portal for US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) includes data from CMS, CDC, FDA, and AHRQ.
- Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)The world’s largest collection of digital social science data covering topics as diverse as health care, aging, substance abuse, mental health, public policy, education and more. Free for UCSF researchers.
- National Center for Health StatisticsNHANES, NHIS, NVSS, etc. UCSF researchers interested in the restricted access version of these datasets should request a consultation with CTSI
- Open Data NetworkSearch engine for government data from cities, counties, and states on topics including health, social services, politics, and recreation.
- Research Data GovResearchDataGov is a web portal for discovering and requesting access to restricted microdata from federal statistical agencies including the US Census, National Center for Healthcare Statistics, SAMHSA and more. UCSF researchers will need to work with UCSF Industry Contracts to sign data use agreements.
- Restricted Data CenterOnsite access to restricted NCHS and Census data; If you are working with restricted data that requires an RDC, please request a consultation with CTSI
- UCSF Industry Documents LibraryA portal to millions of documents created by industries that influence public health, hosted by the UCSF Library