About EpiQMS

EpiQMS (Epidemiologic Query and Mapping System) is an extensive and versatile on-line interactive system that allows users to create various state and local health statistical output on resident live births, teen pregnancy, deaths, infant deaths, cancer incidence, sexually transmitted diseases, other communicable diseases, behavioral health risk and population in different formats (tables, charts, maps, and profiles) over time (in single and multiple-year output) for the purpose of trend analysis, public health assessment and/or surveillance support. Output includes age-adjusted and age-specific rates, standard mortality/morbidity ratios, fertility rates, various birth outcome measures (low birth weight, teen births, trimester of entry into prenatal care, etc.), risk factor percentage data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, prevalence rates for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), prevalence rates for other communicable diseases, and cancer staging distributions along with 95% confidence limits and expected numbers of events (for counties based on state figures). Most output can also be broken down for various demographics such as age, sex and race/ethnicity. Maps are a key part of this application and include rates based on Bayes smoothing techniques and on nearest neighbor calculations to diminish the negative effects of small numbers.

Users can query the application to see, for example, what the breast cancer incidence rate is in their county. A medical practitioner can determine the heart disease death rate in the area. A local health agency epidemiologist can look at the historical trends of teen births in a county. All of this is available as ordinary and special rates/ratios and confidence intervals, but also is available with various adjustments for small numbers.

For detailed discussion of technical issues and statistical methodology, please review the Contents section of EpiQMS Help or go to our Understanding Health Statistics web site at www.health.state.pa.us/stats (select Understanding Health Statistics).

IMPORTANT: Maps and graphs/charts are displayed using SVG (scalable vector graphics) technology. You will need the free software Adobe SVG Viewer (version 3.0 or higher is required) on your system to view graphs and maps completely and correctly. Go to http://www.adobe.com/svg/viewer/install/ to download/upgrade Version 3.0 or higher. Use of Version 2.x will result in display of incomplete and incorrect graphical output in EpiQMS. Currently, there is no plug-in available for versions of Netscape higher than 4.x. Also, the charts lose the ability to be modified in versions of Netscape higher than 4.x. Maps and charts are displayed with their full functionality in Internet Explorer 5.x and above.

PLEASE NOTE:  We only recommend this site for those who are interested in using health statistics for various assessment, planning, and research purposes. If you are only looking for numbers of births, teen pregnancy, deaths, infant deaths, and/or cancer cases at the state, county, and municipality levels for various demographics (age, sex, race, etc), please go to Birth and Death Statistics or Cancer Incidence and Mortality Statistics.

EpiQMS is a collaborative effort between the Washington State Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

DISCLAIMER: If you use any of the data provided by EpiQMS, please include the following statement in any publication or release: "These data were provided by the Bureau of Health Statistics and Research, Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Department specifically disclaims responsibility for any analyses, interpretations or conclusions."