Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2020
Abstract
The Clinical Informatic Application called Death Investigation Electronic Record (DIER) is being designed to address a need within the field of death investigation for anyone who investigate deaths, such as forensic nurses. Currently, there is no consistent or standardized methodology utilized by local, state or federal death investigation organizations. The reporting of data identified during death investigations, for the purposes of resource allocation and research, is inconsistent. These inconsistencies of data collection can lead to significant delays to complete this necessary analysis; often times lasting years. This timeframe can significantly impact the influence of any resources allocated. The DIER application being developed will address this need. The initial version of this application will include the following essential universal elements needed in the data collection: (1) a case name/number; (2) a death scene investigation checklist; (3) a cause of death section incorporating investigation sheets specific to certain causes of death; (4) a witness statement section; (5) a death scene diagram section; (6) a body image diagram; (7) a scene photographs section with free text area for each photo; (8) a next-of-kin notification section; (9) a disposition of the body section; and (10) an additional documents section. The goal for further development of the DIER application includes the establishment of a synchronized reporting database for sharing data surrounding cause-of-death information with various responsible parties; enabling immediate access to critical data for research purposes. Due to the dynamic nature of death scene investigation, the application is being designed to enable future expansion to incorporate new technologies and information as it becomes available. The goal of the DIER team is to have this technology utilized nationally to increase compliance of causes of death reporting, to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of in field death scene investigation data collection by reducing the chance of omissions and errors along with reducing the amount of time it takes to complete paperwork by incorporating auto-complete data fields and database synchronization.
