What is the Massachusetts Health Data Tool?
The Massachusetts Health Data Tool (MAHDT) is a publicly available web resource to locate what we know about the health of people who are born, live, work, play and age in Massachusetts. The tool includes a wide variety of reliable, up-to-date sources for information on population demographics, health outcomes, the physical and social environment, education, housing and many other topics.
Anyone is able to access the MAHDT to learn more about their community. Most often, it has been used by local boards of health and community-based organizations, supporting local assessments, grant writing, presentations, day-to-day research and more.
Additionally, it has played a crucial role in the State Health Assessment (SHA) for the Public Health Accreditation Board reaccreditation process. Learn more about its development process here.
Who built the Massachusetts Health Data Tool?
The Massachusetts Health Data Tool is a project of the Performance Management and Quality Improvement team within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). The data, maps, and reporting tools are provided by the Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES) at the University of Missouri with close collaboration and guidance from DPH. The Massachusetts Health Data Tool project works closely with the Population Health Information Tool which acts as another data dissemination tool in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Where does the data come from?
The data in the Massachusetts Health Data Tool (MAHDT) comes from more than 60 national secondary sources and a variety of state-based sources. All map layers and report indicators include release date information for easy reference and link back to the original data source. Data are broken out by age, gender, race, and ethnicity, when possible. A searchable list of data and sources can be found here.
It is important to recognize that the MAHDT is constrained by how each data source represents race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity, as well as the level of geographic granularity available. Furthermore, each data source carries inherent limitations related to how the data is collected, sampled, and estimated. When possible, the MAHDT has contextualized each report with more information on data limitations and historical context.
How often are the data updated?
Data updates vary by the source. Data are updated in the Massachusetts Health Data Tool as new data are made available. All map layers and report indicators include release date information for easy reference. For a list of data updates and other news, please see the What’s New page.
Does the tool contain historical data?
Yes. The Massachusetts Health Data Tool hosts both recent and historical data. Historical data layers are available by year in the map room. Historical data are also available with some report indicators as trends over time.
The DPH Health Equity Data Standards inform some DPH data sources, but the national data sources may vary. DPH standards provide a foundation for discussing public health data and are informed by best practices. To learn more, contact the DPH Health Equity Data Standardization Initiative at dphdatastandards@mass.gov.