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H H S Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration
Primary Care: The Health Center Program

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Health Center Data

Uniform Data System reports, manuals, reporting changes, and training materials are housed under Health Center Data.

What is the UDS?

A core set of information appropriate for reviewing the operation and performance of health centers.

What Data Are Collected?
Who Reports UDS Data?
When Are Data Reported?
How Are Data Used?
How Can I Get Help Submitting our Health Center UDS Data?

Reporting Highlights

In 2010, the health center program had the following impact:

  • Served 19.5 million patients

    93% below 200% poverty
    72% below 100% poverty
    38% uninsured
    1,052,000 homeless individuals
    863,000 migrant/seasonal farmworkers
    173,000 residents of public housing

  • Provided 77 million patient visits in 1,124 organizations across more than 8,100 service sites

  • Employed more than 131,000 staff including

    9,600 physicians
    6,400 nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, and certified nurse midwives


What Data Are Collected?
The Uniform Data System (UDS) tracks a variety of information, including patient demographics, services provided, staffing, clinical indicators, utilization rates, costs, and revenues. UDS data are collected from grantees and reported at the grantee, state, and national levels.

Who Reports UDS Data?
The UDS is a reporting requirement for grantees of the following HRSA primary care programs, as defined in the Public Health Service Act:
• Community Health Center, Section 330 (e)
• Migrant Health Center, Section 330 (g)
• Health Care for the Homeless, Section 330 (h)
• Public Housing Primary Care, Section 330 (i)
All new grantees that receive Health Center grant awards and are operational by October of the reporting year are required to submit UDS reports.

When Are Data Reported?
Data are reported annually in the first quarter of the year. The UDS submission deadline was March 31, 2011.

How Are Data Used?
The data are reviewed to ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements, improve health center performance and operations, and report overall program accomplishments. The data help to identify trends over time, enabling HRSA to establish or expand targeted programs and identify effective services and interventions to improve the health of underserved communities and vulnerable populations. UDS data are compared with national data to review differences between the U.S. population at large and those individuals and families who rely on the health care safety net for primary care. UDS data also inform Health Center Program grantees, partners, and communities about the patients served by Health Centers.

How Can I Get Help Submitting our Health Center UDS Data?
Available technical assistance resources include national grantee calls, help desk responses to questions, and on-line training modules.

National Technical Assistance 2010 Uniform Data System

Archived TA webinars on clinical measures and the UDS website and reports are available at http://bphc.hrsa.gov/healthcenterdatastatistics/reporting/index.html.

The schedule of Primary Care Association sponsored trainings will be announced during the Fall 2011.

Helpful Links

EHB Resources: EHB accounts and user access questions:
CallCenter@hrsa.gov or 1-877-464-4772
Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) 9 AM to 5:30 PM (ET)

UDS Help Desk: UDS content questions
udshelp330@bphcdata.net or 1-866-837-4357 (866-UDS-HELP)
Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (ET)

BPHC Help Desk: UDS electronic reporting questions
bphchelpline@hrsa.gov or 1-877-974-BPHC
Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (ET)

Modular Online UDS Trainings