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4 | Goal Increase the percent of deaths entered into the Iowa Vital Events System (IVES) within 14 days. Description County medical examiners have the responsibility of investigating deaths that come under medical examiner jurisdiction (Iowa Code 331.802) and completing an investigation and submitting a report to the state medical examiner and the county attorney within 14 days of the death (Iowa Admin rule 641-127.2 (3)). Timely completion of these IVES reports are important for legal, medical, and vital statistics purposes. The state medical examiner and county attorney have access to these reports for review that may then prompt further investigation. A major improvement was seen in compliance with the 14-day rule since the rollout of electronic (IVES) submission on investigation reports. Since the rollout, follow-up with county medical examiners has revealed that overdue reports are due to user difficulties with the IVES system, difficulties and delays in acquiring essential medical records and information needed to complete the investigation, and finding time to complete the reports (many of the county personnel are part time and must fit in the medical examiner follow-up work with their other full-time jobs). Most IVES reports are completed within 30 days. Formula Number of medical examiner (ME) reportable deaths entered into IVES within 14 days of death divided by number of total medical examiner reportable deaths entered into IVES. Data Source Iowa Vital Events System (IVES) | Goal Complete all autopsies at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner (IOSME) within 48 hours but not more than 72 hours of receipt. Description This timeframe is a goal for accreditation by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). It is also in the interest of the state medical examiner's customers (families of the deceased, law enforcement agencies, county attorneys, funeral directors, and county medical examiners who do not perform autopsies). Formula Number of autopsies completed within 48 or 72 hours of receipt divided by the total number of autopsies completed during the quarter. Data Source Forensic Advantage System | Goal The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) set a standard that at least 20% of deaths should be reported to the medical examiner. They set this standard because, at this level of reporting, it's likely all deaths which should have been reported were reported. Description Per Iowa Code 331.802, a person's death that affects the public interest (which includes violent or accidental deaths as well as suicides, virulent or contagious deaths, and deaths occuring outside a medical institution) shall be reported to the county or state medical examiner. Formula Number of medical examiner (ME) reportable deaths entered into IVES divided by the number of total deaths entered into IVES. Data Source Iowa Vital Events System |