Michigan Medical Examiner Database Initiative (MMEDB)

Funding Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control, Injury Prevention Section

Project Period: December 1997 - September 2005

Project Coordinator: Lynn Breer, PhD

The Michigan Medical Examiner Database Initiative project used an internet-based data collection system designed to create a comprehensive and uniform database for use by county medical examiners and researchers. This database was designed to be a unique source of fatal injury information; a useful assessment tool for examining the health status of a county, region or state; with the potential to further focus community and state-based prevention initiatives. The database was used in conjunction with a paper data collection tool called the Death Scene Investigation Report (DSIR) to collect information relevant for medical examiners including demographic data, medical history, next of kin, circumstances and information about death, and means and manner of death. MPHI-CDMTR supported and hosted the website; provided technical assistance to participating counties; provided training on how to use the DSIR and online system to participating counties; and analyzed and reported the data on an annual basis. Data entered into the system created a unique dataset for fatal injury information that could be used to better target injury prevention efforts, as well as guide policy makers. Two research/public safety groups utilized the data to monitor non-natural deaths in Michigan. The Michigan Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (MI FACE) used data to identify all work-related traumatic deaths in Michigan. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) used the ME Database Initiative to connect the cause of injury to the use of a product. In addition, data was used by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS).

Project Type: Surveillance, Technical Assistance, Training