[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 1 (Friday, January 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93-95]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31908]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part C (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-76, dated 
October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, as 
amended most recently at 68 FR 65935-37, dated November 24, 2003) is 
amended to reorganize the Office of Analysis, Epidemiology, and Health 
Promotion and the Office of Information Technology and Services, 
National Center for Health Statistics.
    Section C-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as 
follows:
    After the functional statement for the Office of Research and 
Methodology (CS13), insert the following:
    Office of Information Services (CS14). The Office of Information 
Services (OIS) plans and administers complex information services 
production and dissemination systems for promoting access to, use and 
value of, health statistics data to Government officials, health 
organizations, researchers, and academia. (1) Plans, directs, 
coordinates and evaluates the information services program of the 
Center; (2) develops standards for information services production and 
dissemination; (3) conducts a technologically enhanced information 
services program utilizing state-of-the-art advancements in Internet 
and external Web-based products and services; (4) coordinates 
information services with other NCHS divisions and programs to meet 
Center goals effectively; (5) conducts research to improve methods and 
operations of information production and dissemination programs, 
emphasizing Web-based services; (6) designs, develops, and implements 
state-of-the-art systems for information production and dissemination, 
emphasizing Web-based systems; (7) provides technical assistance, 
consultation, and liaison to NCHS, CDC, DHHS, and outside private, 
domestic, and international organizations on information services 
programs and services which improve the access to, use, and 
availability of health statistics data for analysis; (8) promotes the 
integration of health statistics data information systems; and (9) 
develops and sustains collaborative partnerships within NCHS, CDC, 
DHHS, and externally with public, private, domestic, and international 
entities on health information services programs.
    Office of the Director (CS141). (1) Provides leadership for the 
development, conduct, and evaluation of the national health statistics 
information services program; (2) directs, plans, and coordinates the 
health information dissemination and information production activities 
of the Division; (3) develops and administers a research and analytic 
program to improve the delivery of information services to 
constituents; (4) determines the most effective mix to provide the 
Center cost-effective and timely information dissemination, 
publications, and Internet/Extranet services using in-house and 
contractor-based resources; (5) provides technical assistance regarding 
data and information dissemination, publications and Internet services 
to Federal, State, local, public, and private organizations; and (6) 
leads development of collaborative partnerships within NCHS, CDC, and 
DHHS and externally with public, private, domestic, and international 
entities on health information services and the manner in which health 
statistics data may be accessed by users.
    Information Dissemination Staff (CS142). (1) Plans, directs, and 
coordinates the health statistics information dissemination program for 
the National Center for Health Statistics; (2) designs, develops, and 
implements systems to disseminate and promote the use of NCHS data and 
information products; (3) manages a broad program of electronic 
dissemination activities using cutting-edge tools such as the Internet, 
extranet, CD-ROM, and other media; (4) develops and promotes the 
dissemination of a wide range of other information materials, including 
brochures, fact sheets, and exhibits to reach general and specialized 
audiences; (5) develops standards and policies for formatting and 
organizing electronic data and information products including micro-
data, Listserv, publications, Web-only data releases, fact sheets and 
other dissemination tools; (6) coordinates with NCHS programs to 
identify, develop, produce, disseminate and market a range of printed 
and electronic information materials designed to meet user needs; (7) 
develops and sustains relationships with Federal, State, and local 
agencies, the scientific and research community, libraries, and 
national and international health organizations which foster access to 
and use of NCHS statistical information services; (8) operates a public 
inquiries program to respond to data and information requests; (9) 
provides technical assistance to users in acquiring and using NCHS data 
and information products; (10) conducts and participates in 
conferences, seminars, workshops, and exhibits to present the 
information and data of NCHS; (11) evaluates the presentation and 
dissemination of NCHS information; (12) conducts user surveys to 
determine users needs and translates these needs into NCHS product 
development and dissemination plans; (13) researches, evaluates, 
develops, and implements improved methods of information dissemination; 
(14) manages the inventory and storage of NCHS information products; 
and (15) deeps abreast of Federal information dissemination policies 
and programs.
    Information Design and Publishing Staff (CS143). (1) Plans, 
directs, and conducts the NCHS information publishing program; (2) 
develops, recommends, and implements policies and standards for 
electronic and printed publishing at NCHS; (3) provides consultation 
and technical assistance to NCHS programs regarding publication 
policies, operational procedures, presentation techniques, and graphic 
services; (4) interprets and applies CDC standards and provides input 
to CDC officials regarding issues unique to the design and production 
of NCHS electronic and printed materials; (5) researches and adopts 
emerging technology to improve timeliness, cost-savings, and quality of 
electronic and printed products; (6) directs, coordinates, and provides 
liaison between NCHS and other agencies on joint information design and 
publishing projects; (7) provides design, editing, technical writing, 
and production support for all NCHS published products, including the 
NCHS Web site; (8) plans, designs, produces, monitors, and administers 
the NCHS Web site; (9) develops specifications, sets standards, 
coordinates, and produces NCHS reports; (10) provides graphic and 
multimedia design services for all NCHS programs; (11) prioritizes, 
coordinates, and controls all NCHS electronic publications and print 
products; (12) establishes, administers, and monitors contracts to 
provide editing, technical writing, graphic support, and printing 
services for NCHS; and (13) plans, develops and implements systems for 
tracking production of NCHS electronic information products, printed 
publications, and graphic products to insure timely releases.
    After the functional statement for the Classifications and Public 
Health Data

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Standards Staff (CS18), insert the following:
    Office of Information Technology (CS19). (1) Directs, plans and 
coordinates information technology services for NCHS; (2) serves as the 
focal point for Information Technology research activities for NCHS-
wide systems and in that capacity represents NCHS in developing 
technology partnerships with other agencies, both public and private; 
(3) maintains knowledge of strategic business processes in the private 
and public sector, and leads the development of Information Technology 
Policy planning for NCHS; (4) provides for the development and 
implementation of the Information Technology Plans for NCHS and directs 
the maintenance of the information technology architecture of NCHS; (5) 
serves as the focal point for the NCHS Information Technology Advisory 
Board and its working groups and serves as a clearinghouse for IT 
information on issues under consideration by the Board; (6) conducts 
applied research studies on existing and emerging information 
technologies and methodologies, and their applicability to NCHS 
critical business needs; (7) provides IRM policy coordination for the 
Center and systems contract support; (8) represent NCHS to other public 
and private health agencies, foundations and statistical agencies on 
Information Technology activities; (9) provides software consultation, 
data base management, research, design, and support services needed by 
NCHS survey, registration and administrative systems, emphasizing 
projects which are not program specific; (10) plans, coordinates and 
conducts the NCHS computer training activities to enhance the use of 
information technologies and methodologies by Center staff; (11) 
manages and administers contracts for Center-wide emerging information 
technology services; and (12) actively participates with state, 
national and international agencies, associations, foundations and 
working groups involved in emerging technologies to enhance the IT 
environment between NCHS and its partners.
    Office of the Director (CS191). (1) In partnership with NCHS 
programs, devises IT practices and procedures and provides direction, 
planning and evaluation for overall information technology services and 
infrastructure at NCHS; (2) identifies needs and makes recommendations 
for procurement of technology and services to support NCHS activities; 
(3) evaluates and recommends new information technology software and 
methods in support of NCHS programs; (4) serves as the primary point of 
contact in NCHS to represent the Center's IT infrastructure services 
needs to the CDC Information Technology Services Office (ITSO); (5) 
develops and administers an annual planning process to identify all 
requirements of NCHS programs for new IT Infrastructure products and 
services; (6) maintains close collaboration with the CDC ITSO and 
coordinates capital planning and business case development for NCHS IT 
investments; (7) provides continuous evaluation of the NCHS IT program 
to certify adherence to all HHS Enterprise Architecture and CDC IT 
infrastructure policies, and technical standards; (8) provides 
technical assistance and information exchange services regarding NCHS 
information technology activities to Federal, State and local, public 
and private organizations; and (9) represents NCHS at national and 
international meetings regarding emerging information technologies and 
methodologies.
    Software Solutions and Engineering Staff (CS192). (1) Conducts and 
evaluates studies on emerging software technologies and methodologies 
for NCHS as input to the IT and IRM planning process and serves as a 
clearinghouse on these emerging technologies for NCHS; (2) provides 
consulting and software life-cycle development support for NCHS 
business process re-engineering activities; (3) develops information 
systems to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the CDC provided 
IT infrastructure components and contracts to ensure that NCHS programs 
receive all services in accordance with negotiated Service Level 
Agreements (SLA); (4) partners with NCHS programs, outside agencies and 
the States, to pilot the application of new software technologies and 
methodologies to meet evolving business needs; (5) manages and 
administers contractual services for software consulting, design, 
development, and integration of innovative technologies at NCHS; (6) 
partners with NCHS programs and the States to evaluate and support the 
application of emerging technologies and data conversion activities 
related to data dissemination services and products inclusive of 
automated data access systems on the Internet, CD-ROM and other data 
storage and retrieval media; (7) conducts and evaluates feasibility 
studies on new technologies to support IT training; (8) develops, 
manages, procures and implements the NCHS IT training program; and (9) 
coordinates IT user groups.
    Delete in its entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Office of Information Technology and Services (CS3).
    Delete in its entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Office of Analysis, Epidemiology, and Health Promotion (CS4) and insert 
the following:
    Office of Analysis and Epidemiology (CS4). (1) Participates in the 
development of policy, long-range plans, and programs of the Center; 
(2) plans, directs, and coordinates the Analysis and Epidemiology 
Program of the Center; (3) develops policy for the Analysis and 
Epidemiology Program of the Center; (4) conducts developmental and 
evaluation research and analysis in the areas of epidemiology, health 
status, health services utilization, health promotion, and health 
economics; (5) provides operating liaison with other programs of the 
Center, CDC, the Department and other public and private health 
agencies on activities related to analysis, epidemiology, and health 
promotion; (6) provides consultation and technical assistance to 
Federal agencies, states, and other public and private sector 
institutions on the analysis and interpretation of national health 
statistics; and (7) augments the policy analysis activities of CDC.
    Delete in their entirety the title and functional statements for 
the Division of Epidemiology (CS44) and the Division of Health and 
Utilization Analysis (CS45).
    Delete in their entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Division of Health Promotion Statistics (CS46) and insert the 
following:
    Health Promotion Statistics Branch (CS46). (1) Develops policies, 
plans, and strategies for the implementation of surveillance and data 
systems in support of the Department's health promotion and disease 
prevention objectives; (2) coordinates the health promotion and disease 
prevention related data collection activities of the Center; (3) serves 
as liaison with the Department's Office of Disease Prevention and 
Health Promotion; (4) provides support and technical assistance to 
state and local health agencies in the areas of statistical assessment 
and the use of data for policy development and program planning; (5) 
coordinates Center activities that assess the progress on the 
elimination of health disparities; (6) establishes consensus-building 
processes involving CDC, the Department, state and local agencies, and 
the private sector to identify

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priority data gaps on national health promotion objectives and 
recommends solutions to fill these gaps; and (7) designs, develops, and 
implements computer data processing systems and software and produces 
statistical data for analysis.
    Aging and Chronic Disease Statistics Branch (CS47). (1) Conducts 
methodological research and epidemiological analysis of significant 
public health problems including the etiology and sequela of chronic 
disease incidence and prevalence, aging, and functional limitation; (2) 
develops and conducts a comprehensive research program on the health 
and health care of the aging population; (3) conducts methodological 
research and analysis focused on the relationship between demographic, 
social, and biological factors, health care, and chronic disease and 
aging; (4) collaborates with and provides consultation and technical 
assistance to other agencies in the collection, analysis, 
interpretation and dissemination of data on mortality, morbidity, and 
chronic disease and issues related to the aging population; and (5) 
prepares research and analytic reports for publication and 
dissemination.
    Infant, Child and Women's Health Statistics Branch (CS48). (1) 
Using statistical data from multiple sources, develops and conducts a 
comprehensive research program on infant, child and women's health; (2) 
conducts methodological research on the relationship on social and 
biological factors during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood to 
mortality and morbidity and on the multiple factors influencing women's 
health; (3) provides operational liaison with programs of other public 
and private agencies involved with the development and advancement of 
health programs aimed at the prevention of infant mortality and 
morbidity and the promotion of women's health; (4) provides 
consultation and technical assistance to other agencies in the 
collection, analysis and interpretation of data on women's health and 
on perinatal morbidity and mortality; and (5) prepares research and 
analytic reports for publication and dissemination.
    Special Projects Branch (CS49). (1) Plans, directs, and manages the 
Center's multi-faceted methodological research program on major public 
health issues including disability, injury statistics and data linkage 
and sample tracking; (2) develops and coordinates an integrated Center-
wide research plan on the epidemiology of injury, including 
methodological research on injury classification; (3) provides 
leadership for the coordination of international activities aimed at 
improving the quality and reliability of international statistics 
related to injury; (4) develops and coordinates an integrated Center-
wide research plan on disability statistics including methodological 
research on disability measurement; (5) provides leadership for the 
coordination of national and international activities on disability 
questionnaire design and data analysis; (6) develops and executes 
tracking and record-linkage activities that trace and collect 
additional information for respondents to the Center's cross-sectional 
health surveys; and (7) develops, plans, and implements studies 
evaluating the Center's linkage projects.
    Analytic Studies Branch (CS4A). (1) Serves as a focal point for a 
Center-wide analytical program aimed at the assessment and development 
of health data from multiple sources designed to facilitate the 
analysis of emerging public health issues and problems; (2) conducts 
and coordinates in-depth statistical analyses of special population 
groups relating to their health characteristics and their health care 
needs; (3) coordinates preparation of the Secretary's annual report, 
Health, United States, on the health status of the Nation to the 
President and the Congress in compliance with Section 308 of the PHS 
Act and other recurring and special reports requested by the 
Department; (4) provides leadership and expertise in the application of 
sophisticated statistical techniques related to the problem of 
integrating and analyzing data from diverse sources; (5) conducts 
research on the economic aspects of health status and health services; 
and (6) prepares research and analytical reports for publication and 
dissemination.

    Dated: December 16, 2003.
William H. Gimson,
Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-31908 Filed 12-31-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-M