Further relevant articles and books were selected from the reference listings of the primary journal articles. Because of its uniformity and comprehensiveness, the national vital statistics system is the primary source of health-related information comparable at the local, state, and national levels. This comparability has made it an invaluable resource for monitoring injury and disease and for the formation of health policy and program planning and evaluation.
Physicians play key roles in the completion of U.S. vital records.
However, despite the importance of vital statistics data, numerous authors have raised questions regarding the accuracy of data on vital records. A lack of understanding of the information requested, situations in which the most knowledgeable person is not required to complete the certificate, and a reluctance to make certain diagnoses all contribute to problems in accuracy. While training and information dissemination will play important roles in improving the quality of data, arguably the greatest promise for U.S. vital statistics lies in the shift from a paper-based to an electronic process for the recording of vital events. For the broad purposes of identifying major health problems, direction setting, and program design and evaluation, vital statistics are probably the best available source of information. The role played by physicians in the recording of vital events has far-reaching implications for improving the reliability and accuracy of data on U.S. vital records.