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Available public health research data sets

The DPH maintains numerous public health databases that contain medical or personal information that is considered confidential under Massachusetts laws and regulations. These data are available to qualified public health researchers under certain circumstances described under Authorization for Public Health Research.

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Overview and availability

Maintaining the privacy of the individuals whose personal information is contained in these databases is essential to MDPH's mission to promote public health. MDPH conducts a detailed review of every application for access to confidential data and makes a determination whether to approve access on a case-by-case basis. Approved researchers are held to the highest ethical and legal standards and must agree to stipulations regarding use of the data. Approved researchers must provide adequate justification for every variable requested and are granted (temporary) access to only the minimum necessary data elements to complete a study.

The databases in this guide contain confidential MDPH records. By law, the Department may make them available to qualified researchers if approved by the Commissioner of Public Health in accordance with Massachusetts General Law, chapter 111, §24A.

Data Set Availability

Data Sets described herein have provided the minimum date of data availability. Latest date of a data set availability varies.

Vital Records

MDPH holds data relating to nearly 250,000 annual vital events (e.g., births, fetal deaths) that occur in Massachusetts in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws and regulations. Some records, such as birth records that have been amended or records of children who are adopted, are further restricted by Massachusetts General Laws and are not available. Individual records of birth and death that occurred out of state to Massachusetts residents are also not available for research purposes. Variables available change over time in conjunction with certificate format changes.

Births

The current file format was implemented in 2011 and includes demographic information about the parents, infant characteristics, pregnancy and prenatal care information, and medical information about the mother and infant. The variable list is included in the application appendix for births.

  • Data available Beginning: 1969

Linked birth/infant deaths

The linked birth/infant death file is a data set composed of linked birth and death certificates for infants born in Massachusetts who died before reaching one year of age. This is a birth file cohort, with a given year's birth records linked with deaths for that year and the following year. The format includes data elements from birth and death certificates and the variable list is included in the application appendix for births.

  • Data available beginning: 1987

Fetal deaths

The fetal death file includes information on reported fetal deaths of 20 or more weeks gestation or those where the fetus weighed at least 350 grams. The current file format was implemented in 2015 and includes demographic information about the parents and medical information about the mother and fetus.

  • Data available beginning: 1970

Additional Resources

Open file,  Learn about records available through the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS)

Massachusetts Cancer Registry

M.G.L. c. 111, §111B and 105 CMR 301.000 require reporting to the MDPH information related to newly diagnosed cases of malignant disease and benign brain-related tumors that occur to Massachusetts residents. The Massachusetts Cancer Registry collects data from hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, pathology laboratories, and radiation treatment centers that have either diagnosed or treated a cancer patient. Carcinoma in situ, except for cervical carcinoma in situ, has been collected since January 1, 1992; benign brain and central nervous system tumors since January 1, 2004. The file includes demographic, tumor, and treatment information; the variable list is included in the cancer incidence application appendix.  For a more exhaustive list of variables, please refer to North American Association of Cancer Registries (NAACCR) data dictionary on their website: Data Standards & Data Dictionary, Volume II - NAACCR.

  • Data available beginning: 1982

Additional Resources

Open file,  Massachusetts Cancer Registry
Open file,  105 CMR 301.00: Cancer registry

Birth Defects

M.G.L. c. 111, §67E requires reporting to the Department's Birth Defects Monitoring Program any required information related to birth defects that occur to Massachusetts residents.

The file includes information from births, infant deaths, fetal deaths, and birth defects records reported to the Department. The variable list is included in the birth defects application appendix.

  • Data available beginning: 2000

Additional Resources

Open file,  About the Birth Defects Monitoring Program

Substance Addiction Treatment

The Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) manages Enterprise Invoice/Service Management (EIM-ESM) and the legacy Substance Abuse Management Information System (SAMIS) data. These databases include admission and discharge information on a range of substance addiction treatment services delivered in over 200 treatment agencies that receive public funding, with over 1,000 separate programs.

  • Data available beginning: 2002

Additional Resources

Open file,  Bureau of Substance Addiction Services

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Data

The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) maintains a comprehensive database of blood lead screening data for children less than 6 years of age in Massachusetts. See the CLPPP website for more information.

Additional Resources

Open file,  Requesting Data from the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Early Intervention Data

The Early Intervention (EI) system collects and maintains a set of service and program data that can support research on child development, service access, and outcomes for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or at risk for delay. The EI Division regularly publishes referral and program dashboards on its website, including monthly referral trends, demographic breakdowns, and overviews of service delivery patterns. Public reporting also includes IDEA Part C performance indicators, local program determinations, annual child count data, legislative expenditure reports, and state performance plans/annual performance reports that document outcomes across key federal indicators. 

  • Data available beginning: 2019

Additional Resources

Open file,  Early Intervention Division

Ambulance Service Response Incidents (MATRIS)

MDPH collects records for all emergency medical service (EMS) responses by a state-licensed ambulance service for emergent or non-emergent purposes, in accordance with 105 CMR 170.347. Approximately 1.5 million EMS records are received annually. The state maintains these data in the Massachusetts Ambulance Trip Record Information System (MATRIS), which adheres to the national standard set by the National Emergency Medical Service Information System.

MATRIS records include information on the incident disposition (i.e., whether the patient was transported or refused care), call times, patient demographics, incident location, destination location, type of care administered, reason for the call, and the patient’s condition. The variable list is included in the MATRIS application appendix.

  • Data available beginning: 2013

Additional Resources

Open file,  MATRIS Program Information

Epinephrine Administration in Schools

105 CMR 210.010(A)(7)(j) and 105 CMR 210.009(C) require the reporting of epinephrine administration in public and nonpublic schools during regular school activities to the Department of Public Health’s School Health Services Program. The School Health Services program collects data as reported by school nurse leaders, school nurses, and those who support them in reporting across the state via an online form. The data files include demographic information and specific information about the incident, such as location, allergen/trigger, and more as reported by those submitting the forms. The form has been modified over the years, so some variables differ over time.

  • Data available beginning: 2019 

Additional Resources

Open file,  Life-threatening allergies and anaphylactic events in schools

Other Confidential MDPH Datasets

MDPH maintains other confidential datasets that may be available for research purposes. Contact the particular MDPH program that maintains the data to determine whether data are available, or contact MDPH IRB for more information at DPH.IRB@state.ma.us.

Please note: Under current Massachusetts law, death records are not confidential. You may request access to closed death files including deaths that occurred in Massachusetts by contacting the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics at (617) 740-2670 or 740-2671.

  • Data available beginning: 1969

Additional Resources

Open file,  Vitals Information Partnership (VIP)

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