Error rates on death certificates in Vermont are high and extend to ICD-10 coding, thereby affecting national mortality statistics. Surveillance and certifier education must expand beyond local and state efforts. Simplifying and standardizing underlying literal text for cause of death may improve accuracy, decrease coding errors, and improve national mortality statistics.

Most female patients with stage I to III breast cancer in Vermont are receiving adjuvant chemotherapy within the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-recommended timeframe; however, improvements remain needed for certain subgroups. Novel approaches for women with long drive times need to be developed and evaluated in the community. Variation in TTC by hospital, even after adjusting for patient, tumor, and treatment factors, also suggests opportunities for process improvement.

No abstract