01/08/2008

ODH Makes Enhancements to EDRS

Submitted by Mark Kassouf, Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics

The Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital
Statistics, has implemented enhancements to the
Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS).
A summary of the changes are listed below. Should
you have any questions relative to these modifications, please refer to the IPHIS-EDRS Support Site at http://vitalsupport.odh.ohio.gov
It has been reported that some funeral directors are having the bottom line of their death certificates not print. Local registrars have been instructed to accept the death certificate if the bottom line is missing.

Recent Enhancements to the EDRS Application
* The system has a new look and feel to it! The new highlighting and shading on our screens gives the system a fresh look! On some drop down menus or icon menu bars you may notice new "options" which we have not activated. Please enjoy the new look and ignore the "options" not yet brought online.

Veteran Information Updates
* If the deceased was identified as a Veteran on the original death certificate, the service information can be changed or updated at any time online. See our Support Site for a Tip Sheet on Modifying Veteran Information.

Funeral Director - Enhancements
Death Certificate:
* In the cause of death section of the dropped to
paper death certificate, check boxes were added to
the autopsy, tobacco, pregnancy, manner of death,
injury and transportation injury fields for the
physicians to select from. The physician's instruction sheet can be printed and provided to the physician as a quick reference guide.
Note: In box number 32. Manner of Death physicians must check Natural. Any other manners must go to the coroner for completion.

* The certifier type and name are mandatory fields for completing the record. There are pop-up messages added to the system to notify you if these fields are not selected.

Medical Supplementary:
* On the dropped to paper medical supplementary
form, the autopsy, tobacco, pregnancy, manner of
death, injury and transportation injury fields have check boxes for the physician to select from. (These are the same selections as on the dropped to paper death certificate in the cause of death section.)

* On the electronic medical supplemental the edits
for data entry will fire the same as on the death
certificate cause of death section. (The edits have been mirrored.)

Death Affidavit:
* The online affidavit form has all correctable fields added to the drop down list. Previously, the list only displayed 7 fields for the user to
choose from when creating an affidavit.
Note: The Veteran tab fields are listed in the drop down but do not require an affidavit for correction or updating. However, the "Ever in Armed Forces?" field on the Decedent tab does require an affidavit for a correction.

* The affidavit date fields will not allow a future date or a date before the date of death. Edits have been added to the system to alert the user if this situation occurs.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the ODH Field Service Unit at 614-644-0156.