142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

307167
Electronic Death Registration and Injury Mortality Surveillance

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 2:50 PM - 3:10 PM

Margaret Warner, PhD , Division of Vital Statistics, Mortality Statistics Branch, National Center for Health Statistics (CDC), Hyattsville, MD
With the increasing implementation of electronic death registration systems (EDRS), real-time monitoring of injury mortality becomes possible, potentially resulting in faster dissemination of information for preventive action. Mortality surveillance pilot projects using death certificate data from EDRS and traditional systems have demonstrated the tremendous potential for near real-time monitoring of certain causes of death, such as those from influenza and severe weather. This presentation will describe the current capacity for mortality surveillance emphasizing application to injury mortality, such as deaths from drug overdose, suicide, or firearms. Currently, EDRS is implemented to some level in 38 states, in development in 6 states, and in planning stages in 5 states. States without EDRS also enter data from death certificates into electronic databases. Data are processed and coded as the certificates are received. While the potential for near real-time surveillance exists, there are many unique barriers to using EDRS for mortality surveillance for injury as compared to natural causes. Injury deaths are often investigated by medical examiners or coroners and require more time for investigation. Based on findings from the current preliminary mortality estimates, certain injury mechanisms need a longer lead time to monitor than others. For example, there may be differences in timely receipt of cause of death for different mechanisms of suicide (e.g. firearm, hanging, poisoning). EDRS shows potential for timely injury mortality surveillance; however, methods to provide reliable and valid mortality surveillance for injury causes with longer lead time and incomplete registration are being developed for the states and nation.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the current status of electronic death registration in the US Discuss pilot projects demonstrating potential for near-real time mortality surveillance using electronic death registration systems Compare capacity for mortality surveillance using electronic death registration for injury compared to other causes of death

Keyword(s): Mortality, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federal studies focusing on surveillance and monitoring of injury related mortality and morbidity. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies to monitor injury mortality and morbidity.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.