Download:
pdf |
pdfOMB Clearance # ####-####
OMB Clearance Expiration Date ##/##/####
2022 Medical Examiner and Coroner Survey
Diversion Control Division
Drug Enforcement Administration
Conducted by
1
National Forensic Laboratory Information System Medical Examiner and
Coroner Survey
The purpose of the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) Medical Examiner
and Corner (MEC) survey is to gather key information from every U.S. MEC office about its
caseload, toxicology requesting practices, and capability of collecting and reporting important
data items (e.g., toxicology results).
This information will be used to update information gathered during the 2017 MEC Survey and to
help the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) further enhance its drug surveillance data
system, which provides an efficient, reliable, and comprehensive data resource for monitoring
drug scheduling actions; tracking drug trends; and identifying new substances of use, misuse,
and abuse. Aggregated survey results will be posted on the NFLIS website:
www.nflis.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.
The survey will take approximately 45 minutes. Participation in the NFLIS-MEC survey is voluntary, but
your information is vital to NFLIS and valuable to the MEC community. Responses to the survey will be
kept confidential and only aggregate results will be reported.
2
Instructions for Completing the 2022 NFLIS-MEC Survey
1. Refer to the jurisdictions your toxicology laboratory serves when answering questions. If your
laboratory’s jurisdiction includes more than one county, respond for all counties.
2. Answer all questions based on calendar year 2021 data.
3. Please use a BLACK or DARK BLUE ink pen (enclosed) to mark your answers.
4. Be sure to read all the answer choices before marking your answer.
5. Some questions ask you to select only one answer option while others ask you to select all that apply.
Look for instructions in italics after the question telling you which response style is appropriate for that
item.
6. Sometimes the instructions will say to skip one or more questions. Look for notes in bold telling you
whether you should go to a particular question based on your response. If there is no note, go to the
next question.
7. Answer all questions by filling in the circle or square next to your answer choice, like this:
Example
1. Did you read this question? Select only one option.
●
o
Yes Skip to Question 3
No
Submission Instructions
After completing the form, log onto our website and enter your responses online. This will ensure a timely,
secure, and confirmed receipt of your data.
URL: https://surveys.nflis.deadiversion.usdoj.gov
Alternatively, you may scan your survey and upload it to the website.
If you are unable to enter information online or upload your survey, return the completed paper survey to:
RTI International
ATTN: Data Capture (NFLIS-MEC)
5265 Capital Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27690
If you need assistance with logging onto the website or help with answering any question, please e-mail
RTI staff at [email protected] or call RTI staff at 1-###-###-####.
We appreciate your voluntary responses. Your participation provides information needed to continue a
critical resource that supports the DEA’s core mission of enforcing the nation’s drug laws.
Thank you for your time!
3
SECTION 1: MEDICAL EXAMINER/CORONER OFFICE IDENTIFICATION
The purpose of this section is to ensure that we have the correct contact information for your medical
examiner/coroner office and to gather a general profile of your office.
1.
We have the official name of your office as:
[FILL]
Is this correct? Select only one option.
A.
Yes, this is correct.
B.
No, this is not correct.
Please provide the corrected name below.
2.
Please review the mailing address for this office as shown below. Is this correct? Select only one
option.
A. Yes,
B. No,
3.
this is correct.
this is not correct. Please update the information below:
Current Information on File
Address Line 1:
[FILL]
Address Line 2:
[FILL]
City:
[FILL]
State:
[FILL]
ZIP Code:
[FILL]
Enter Needed Changes Below
We have the chief position (e.g., chief medical examiner/coroner) of your office as shown below.
Is this correct? Select only one option.
A. Yes,
B. No,
this is correct.
this is not correct. Please update the information below:
Current Information on File
Honorific (e.g., Dr.,
Mr., Ms.):
[FILL]
First Name:
[FILL]
Last Name:
[FILL]
Telephone
Number:
[FILL]
Extension:
[FILL]
Email Address:
[FILL]
4
Enter Needed Changes Below
4.
We have the name and title of the chief position in your toxicology laboratory (e.g., chief
toxicologist) as shown below. Is this correct? Select only one option.
A.
Yes, this is correct.
B.
No, this is not correct. Please update the information below:
C. Our
5.
Current Information on File
Honorific (e.g.,
Dr., Mr., Ms.):
[FILL]
First Name:
[FILL]
Last Name:
[FILL]
Job Title:
[FILL]
Enter Needed Changes Below
office does not have a toxicology laboratory
Does your office use an off-site toxicology laboratory (e.g., State/local crime, private, or health
laboratory)?
Off-site toxicology laboratory: A toxicology laboratory that is not located within your medical
examiner/coroner office or department.
6.
A.
Yes
B.
No Skip to Question 7
Enter the name and location of each off-site toxicology laboratory (e.g., State/local crime,
private, or health laboratory) used by your office.
Laboratory Name
Laboratory City
Laboratory State
1
2
3
4
5
6
7.
What jurisdiction(s) does your office serve (e.g., State of North Carolina; Orange County,
Florida; New York City; First Judicial District)?
5
8.
Select the best description of your office. Select only one option.
A.
State medical examiner office
B.
District/regional medical examiner office
C. County
D. City
medical examiner office
medical examiner office
E.
District/regional coroner office
F.
County coroner office
G. City
coroner office
H. Justice
I.
of the Peace
Private autopsy facility serving the medical examiner/coroner community
8A. How many cases were referred to your office during calendar year 2021,
including all cases in which your office conducted a death investigation for the
jurisdictions you serve?
cases
,
Please mark here if this number is an estimate
8B. How many autopsy examinations did your office perform for the jurisdictions
you serve?
examinations
,
Please mark here if this number is an estimate
J.
9.
Skip to Question 29
None of the above Skip to Question 29
What are the responsibilities of your office? Select all that apply.
A.
Determine the cause of death
B.
Determine the manner of death
C. Conduct
death investigations
D. Perform
scene investigations
E.
Transport the decedent from location of death
F.
Order toxicology testing (directly or indirectly)
G. None
of the above Skip to Question 29
6
SECTION 2: CASELOAD AND TESTING PRACTICES
This section asks about your caseload in calendar year 2021, types of inquiries, turnaround time, and
selected drug and drug class toxicology requests for analysis.
10.
Enter the total number of cases referred to your office during calendar year 2021, including all
cases in which your office conducted a death investigation or documented referral of the case
to your office.
Referred cases: The number of human death cases referred to medical examiner/coroner offices by
medical and law enforcement personnel.
,
11.
cases
Please mark here if this number is an estimate
For calendar year 2021, enter the total number of human death cases accepted by your office.
Do not include cremation approval cases or cases in which jurisdiction was declined.
Accepted cases: The number of human death cases for which the medical examiner/coroner office
accepted jurisdiction and conducted further investigations to determine cause and manner of death
and completed the death certificate.
,
12.
deaths
Please mark here if this number is an estimate
Of the total accepted cases for calendar year 2021, enter the number of cases that included any
of the following procedures performed by your office or by an off-site laboratory at your
request. If data are not available, provide an estimate and mark the square box to the right.
Instruction: If your office did not perform a type of inquiry below, enter 0 for the number of cases for
that type.
Type of Inquiry
A. Death
scene investigation
B. Autopsy
D. External
E. Review
Estimate
,
,
performed
C. Toxicology
13.
Number of Cases
analysis
,
examination only
,
,
of medical records only
For calendar year 2021, enter the total number of overdose death cases accepted by your office.
Do not include cremation approval cases or cases in which jurisdiction was declined.
,
deaths
Please mark here if this number is an estimate
7
14.
Of the total accepted overdose cases for calendar year 2021, enter the number of cases that fell
into the following categories. If data are not available, provide an estimate and mark the square
box to the right.
Instruction: If your office did not have a case that fell into the categories below, enter 0 for the number
of cases for that type.
Type of Overdose Death
15.
A. Accident
,
B. Suicide
,
C. Homicide
,
D. Undetermined
,
Estimate
Are there instances where your office requests toxicology testing for specific drugs based on
the type of case (e.g., more extensive testing requested for a gunshot wound vs. a vehicle
crash)?
A.
Yes
B.
No Skip to Question 17
C. Decision
16.
Number of Cases
made by someone else Skip to Question 17
What instances warrant specific testing for drugs? Check all that apply.
A.
Decedent has history of drug abuse
B.
Suspected overdose case
C. Suspicious
death (e.g., death of a child, poisoning)
D. Suicide
E.
Drowning
F.
Deaths at work
G. Other
acute accidents
H. Case
with any other drug connection (e.g., drug paraphernalia found with body)
I.
Homicides/suspicious for criminal involvement
J.
Motor Vehicle-related death
K.
Fire-related death
L.
Police-involved deaths
M. Death
in custody
N. Hospital
O. Other:
8
17.
18.
Does your office perform toxicology screening (i.e., presumptive tests such as immunoassay,
rapid urine drug screen at autopsy) prior to sending to a toxicology laboratory?
A.
Yes
B.
No
In the case of emerging drugs, what is the normal course of action for requesting toxicology
analysis? Check all that apply.
A.
We do not conduct an analysis of these substances
B.
We conduct some/all emerging drug testing in-house
C.
19.
We screen for some emerging drugs in-house and then send to an off-site laboratory for
confirmation
D.
We submit to a State laboratory or medical examiner’s office
E.
We submit to a private reference laboratory
F.
Other
On average, how long does it take, in days, to receive toxicology results when an autopsy is
performed?
days
20.
On average, how long does it take, in days, to receive toxicology results when no autopsy is
performed?
days
21.
Please mark here if this number is an estimate
On average, how long does it take, in days, to finalize a cause of death when no autopsy is
performed?
days
23.
Please mark here if this number is an estimate
On average, how long does it take, in days, to finalize a cause of death when an autopsy is
performed?
days
22.
Please mark here if this number is an estimate
Please mark here if this number is an estimate
In cases where a drug is found as a cause or contributing cause of death, which of the following
best describes what would typically be listed as the cause of death on the death certificate?
Select only one option.
A. All
of the drug class(es) (e.g., opiates, benzodiazepines) would be listed on the death
certificate.
B. Some
C. All
of the specific drug(s) (e.g., oxycodone, lorazepam) would be listed on the death certificate.
D. Some
E. A
of the drug class(es) would be listed on the death certificate.
of the specific drug(s) would be listed on the death certificate.
mixture of specific drug(s) and drug class(es) would be listed on the death certificate.
F. None
of the specific drugs or classes would be listed or it would only reflect overdose.
9
24.
For the 2021 calendar year, indicate the request frequency of the following drugs/drug classes
that your office requests for toxicology analysis.
Toxicology Request Frequency
Routinely: testing is part of a standard
panel
Drug/Drug Class
Sometimes: testing is done on an
individual case basis
Rarely: testing is rarely done
Routinely
Sometimes
1. Alcohol
2. Amphetamines/
Methamphetamines
3. Anticonvulsants
4. Antidepressants
5. Antipsychotics
6. Barbiturates
7. Benzodiazepines
8. Designer
benzodiazepines (e.g.,
clonazolam, flualprazolam)
9. Buprenorphine
10. Cocaine
11. Fentanyl
12. Fentanyl-related
compounds (e.g.,
acetyl fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl)
13. Gabapentin
14. Heroin
15. Inhalants/volatiles
16. Marijuana/THC
17. Muscle
relaxants
18. Opiates/opioids
and fentanyl)
(other than heroin
19. Emerging
synthetic opioids (AP,
benzimidazoles, U- compounds)
20. Over-the-counter
medications
(e.g., guaifenesin, ibuprofen)
21. Phencyclidine
(PCP)
22. Phenethylamines
NBOMe)
23. Piperazines
(e.g., 2-CI, 25I-
(e.g., BZP, TFMPP)
24. Synthetic
cannabinoids
25. Synthetic
cathinones
26. Z-drugs
zopiclone)
(e.g., zolpidem,
10
Quantitative Analysis Frequency
Routinely: testing is part of a standard
panel
Sometimes: testing is done on an individual
case basis
Rarely: testing is rarely done
Rarely
Routinely
Sometimes
Rarely
SECTION 3: RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OVERVIEW
This section gathers information on whether your office uses a records management system, whether your
office captures the core data items we are interested in collecting, and your office's reporting capabilities.
25.
How would you characterize your office’s records management system? Select only one option.
A. Computerized,
networked system
A computerized system that is connected to a network on which personnel can access the same
information from different computers. Networked does not mean that instrumentation is
networked to the records management system so that toxicology results are automatically
imported.
B. Computerized,
non-networked system
A computerized system that is not connected to a network on which personnel can access the
same information from different computers.
C.
Partially computerized system, some manual record-keeping
Some case data are stored in a computerized system, whereas other case data are stored as
paper-based files.
D.
Fully computerized system with duplicated manual records
Case data are stored in a computerized system with duplicated manual records as back-up.
E.
Manual record-keeping system only
All case data are stored as paper-based files and are not accessible by a computer.
25A. Are there any plans in the next 3 years to transition to a computerized
records management system?
Yes Skip to Question 28
B. No
Skip to Question 28
A.
F.
26.
Other
Please provide the name of the electronic records management system you are using. Select
only one option.
A. In-house
B. Bar
records management system
Coded Evidence Analysis Statistics and Tracking (BEAST)
C. Forensic
Advantage
D. JusticeTrax
E. LabHealth
F. Orchard
Harvest
G. VertiQ
H. Epic
I.
MDI or MDILog
J.
Other (e.g., CoronerME, Forensic Filer)
K. Don’t
know
11
27.
Do you incorporate results for samples sent to an off-site toxicology laboratory into your
electronic records management system? Select only one option.
A.
Yes, direct data input to our system
B.
Yes, PDF or scanned image added to our system only
C. No
D. We
E.
28.
do not send samples to an off-site toxicology laboratory
We do not have an electronic records management system.
Indicate whether your office's case records capture the following data elements and whether
they are stored electronically.
Core Data Items
Collected by the
Medical
Examiner/Coroner
Office
Data Item Is Available in Case Records
Routinely
Sometimes
1. Case
ID/unique
identifier
2. Date
of death
3. Date
of final death
record
4. Cause
of death
5. Manner
of death
6. Location
of injury
(county, city, or ZIP
code)
7.
Date of incident
8.
Age of decedent
9. Sex
of decedent
10. Prescription
medications
11. Date
of toxicology
analysis
12. Drugs
and
metabolites
confirmed
13. Concentration
with units for
confirmed results
14. Sample
source
used for confirmed
result
15. Toxicology
results from off-site
laboratory
12
Rarely
[Instruction: Skip this column if
your office keeps manual
records only]
Is the Data Item Stored in an
Electronic Records
Management System?
Routinely
Sometimes
Rarely
SECTION 4: PARTICIPATION IN A NATIONAL DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM
In this section, we ask about what benefits the NFLIS data collection could provide to your office. If you
would like more information about the NFLIS program, please visit
www.nflis.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/FAQ.aspx.
29.
What types of data would be helpful for your office to see? Select all that apply.
A.
Drug frequency trends
B.
New drug trends
C. Concentrations
D. Geographic
drug trends
E.
Polydrug trends
F.
Practices of other offices
G. Our
office does not see a benefit from this data collection effort
H. Other
I.
30.
of drugs found
benefits (please specify)
None of the above
What is the contact information of the person who is submitting this survey?
We may follow-up with you if there are questions about answers you have provided or for data quality
purposes. We may also use your information for potential future contact related to NFLIS participation.
Honorific (e.g., Dr., Mr., Ms.):
First Name:
Last Name:
Telephone Number:
Extension:
E-mail Address:
Submission Instructions
After completing the form, log onto our website and enter your responses online. This will ensure a timely,
secure, and confirmed receipt of your data.
URL: https://surveys.nflis.deadiversion.usdoj.gov
Alternatively, you may scan your survey and upload it to the website.
If you are unable to enter information online or upload your survey, return the completed paper survey to:
RTI International
ATTN: Data Capture (NFLIS-MEC)
5265 Capital Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27690
Thank you!
We appreciate your time and responses. Your participation will help inform DEA’s efforts to continue
this important national drug surveillance system.
13
| File Type | application/pdf |
| Author | Cahoon, Milton |
| File Modified | 2021-10-21 |
| File Created | 2021-10-21 |