Abstract
BackgroundBased on death certificate data, the Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics calculates age adjusted all-cause mortality rates for each Texas county yearly. In 1998 the calculated rates for two adjacent Texas counties was disparate. These counties contain one city (Amarillo) and are identical in size. This study examined the accuracy of recorded county of residence for deaths in the two counties in 1998. In our jurisdiction, the county of residence is assigned by funeral homes.MethodsA random sample of 20% of death certificates was selected. The accuracy of the county of residence was verified by using a large area map, Tax Appraisal District records, and U.S. Census Bureau databases. Inaccuracies in recording the county or zip code of residence was recorded.ResultsEighteen of 354 (5.4%) death certificates recorded the incorrect county and 21 of 354 (5.9%) of death certificates recorded the zip code improperly. There was a 14.4% county recording error rate for one county compared to a 0.82% for the other county. The zip code error rate was similar for the two counties (5.9% vs. 5.8%). Of the county errors, 83% occurred for addresses within a zip code that contained addresses in both counties.ConclusionThis study demonstrated a large error rate (14%) in recording county of residence for deaths in one county. A similar rate was not seen in an adjacent county. This led to significant miscalculation of mortality rates for two counties. We believe that errors may have arisen in part from use of internet programs by funeral homes to assign the county of residence. With some of these programs, the county is determined by zip code, and when a zip code straddles two counties, the program automatically assigns the county whose name appears first in the alphabet. This type of error could be avoided if funeral homes determined the county of residence from Tax Appraisal District or Census Bureau records, both of which are available on the internet. This type of error could also be avoided if vital statistics offices verified the county and zip code of residence using official sources.
Highlights
Based on death certificate data, the Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics calculates age adjusted all-cause mortality rates for each Texas county yearly
Eight death certificates were discarded due to unverifiable addresses, leaving a total of 354 death certificates in the study. This represents 98% of the selected death certificates, and 20% of the 1,775 deaths assigned to Potter and Randall counties for 1998 based on vital statistics available from the Texas Department of Health
Of the 354 death certificates reviewed, 242 (69%) were in Potter County and 31% were in Randall County. This is consistent with the total death statistics in 1998 as reported by the Texas Department of Health (1,183 of the 1,775 deaths in the two county area, or 66%, occurred in Potter County)
Summary
Based on death certificate data, the Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics calculates age adjusted all-cause mortality rates for each Texas county yearly. In 1998 the calculated rates for two adjacent Texas counties was disparate These counties contain one city (Amarillo) and are identical in size. In many jurisdictions in Texas (including our city of Amarillo) death certificates are initiated by funeral homes. In Texas, death certificates are recorded by municipalities for deaths occurring within that municipality, and forwarded to the Texas Department of State Health Services Bureau of Vital Statistics. Using death certificate information provided by municipalities (cities and counties), the Texas Department of State Health Services Bureau of Vital Statistics calculates and publishes yearly, age-adjusted death rates, as well as disease specific death rates, for all counties in Texas. These contiguous counties ranked one and 25 (of 33) respectively for age-adjusted deaths among all Texas counties with estimated 1998 populations greater than 100,000
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
