In order to determine whether or not having set program standards for local health departments was related to a decreased rate in the top ten causes of death in the United States, a comparison study was completed.  Each state health department was surveyed to determine if it had adopted program standards for local health departments and, if so, what these standards were.

First the reported program standards were separated into common categories such as: communicable disease control, chronic disease prevention, administration, and others.  Which standards should impact which of the ten leading causes of death in the U.S. was then determined.  Next, a death rate comparison between states with and states without set standards was executed.  This was completed to determine whether a relationship between the rates of top ten leading causes of death and the state’s set program standards existed.

Recommendations for modification or adoption of effective program standards related to decreased mortality rates among the 10 leading causes of death in the United States will be made based on the results of this study.