Systems changes resulting from New Mexico's participation in the SUID-CR project

New Mexico is a geographically and racially diverse state that faces numerous public health challenges. One of these is sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), which claims up to 35 lives each year in the state. In July 2009, New Mexico was one of five states to receive funding by the CDC to collect detailed information on all SUID deaths. The state was well-positioned to collect SUID related information because of its centralized, statewide medical examiner's office (the Office of the Medical Investigator). The OMI has a long –standing interest in accurately classifying infant deaths as evidenced by the implementation of specific scene guidelines for collecting information on infant deaths since 1988. The OMI's participation in the SUID-Case Review project allowed for comparison between their existing infant death scene form and the CDC's SUID Reporting Form (SUID-RF). This comparison highlighted the importance of using the SUID-RF by the death scene investigators (DSIs) for thorough and standardized data collection. In 2010, all DSIs were contacted by a SUID-CR staff member and asked to use the SUID-RF. The compliance rate for the first year of SUID-CR project was 70% (24/34). However, the following year, when the staff member did not contact DSIs, only 39% of the SUID-RF cases were turned in. As a result, the OMI pathologists made a change to OMI procedures requiring that the SUID-RF be submitted on all infant deaths pursuant to National Association of Medical Examiners standards. Furthermore, the use of the SUID-RF was incorporated into the DSI semi-annual training events. As a result of this change, 86% (25/29) of the SUID-RF forms were turned in for 2012.

New Mexico's participation in the SUID-CR has allowed for investigation into the content and quality of information collected at the death scene. By comparing information obtained through the existing New Mexico protocol with the SUID-RF information, and by looking at the compliance of DSI SUID-RF use by the DSI, the OMI made the use of the SUID-RF mandatory in all infant deaths.