IT Enhancements for Improved Workflow Efficiency

The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner (ACOME) is a multi-disciplinary agency that functions as the morgue operations and the forensic laboratory for Allegheny County. Forensic science and medicolegal death investigations are time consuming processes with documentation taking up a significant portion of time in most section workflows. During documentation steps, original observations are often made in paper notebooks. These original observations are then transcribed into the office’s information management system during the reporting steps. This method is required to maintain the required degree of cleanliness and separation of clean areas from areas exposed to potentially hazardous contaminants, but it also introduces redundancy and the potential for transcription errors. Under the proposed project, the ACOME will introduce wireless tablets into the workflows of the various office disciplines. These tablets will allow for the direct recording of the original observations into the information management system, eliminating both the redundancy and potential for transcription errors that currently exist. By introducing these information technology enhancements, the ACOME will significantly improve its casework throughput and turnaround time and reduce its casework backlog. CA/NCF