Union County Coroner’s Office adopts new technology

Training requirements increased for deputy coroners

Staff Writer

The Union County Coroner’s Office recently adopted a new technology that will aid them in reporting statistical data to the state.

Within a week of taking the position on Jan. 1, Union County Coroner Stormey Primm had implemented the MDILog reporting software, which was made available for free to all counties in the state last year.

“We have handled every case this year on MDILog,” Primm said. “It streamlines many of the functions of the office.”

With the help of the MDILog software, Primm is immediately informed any time a deputy coroner calls a death, and is now able to instantly review the call every step of the way, he said. The Arkansas State Crime Lab is also able to access reports and photographs from the office the instant they are assigned to the case.

The primary purpose of the new technology is to gather more statistical data from county coroners throughout the state. Mark Whitmore, chief counsel for the Association of Arkansas Counties ( AAC), said in an issue of County Lines magazine that there is a significant lack of data in Arkansas from county coroners, which is why the state provided the MDILog software free of charge.

“We are able to track our deaths in Union County like never before and pinpoint problem areas and relay to other local authorities if we notice a spike in any kind of death or if there are certain areas were deaths are occuring, we can be more aware,” Primm said.

Though statistical patterns have not been established yet, because the Coroner’s Office has only handled 185 deaths so far this year, with over half being hospice related, Primm said the data gathered can be watched over time for trends.

The new system also makes it easier for families to donate the organs and/ or tissue of their deceased loved ones. Within three to five hours of someone’s death, the county is able to report to the Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency ( ARORA). After that, families may decide whether they would like to donate.

New training requirements have also been implemented for coroner’s deputies. Act 551 of 2013 provided for training for coroners and deputies, and Act 238 of 2019 strengthened those provisions.

“Our basic class is taught by coroners, instructors from ALETA ( Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy) and staff from the Department of Health, so it is very well rounded,” Primm said.

Primm said the new training requirements have standardized the training coroners and their deputies receive; that way, every county has the same training standards and everyone has the same fundamental education. Multiple other specific classes are also held as the state training budget allows, he said. In June, county coroners will meet in Little Rock for a course on aquatic death and homicidal drowning investigations.

In April, Act 975 was passed by the Arkansas Legislature, mandating that all death- certificate signers must participate in the Arkansas Department of Health’s ERAVE ( Electronic Registration of Arkansas Vital Events) system.

The Union County Coroner’s Office switched to the ERAVE system last year. Act 975 also requires death certificate signers to submit the certificates within three business days of the person’s death, easing the burden of greiving families as they make arrangements after their loved one’s death.

“All of the hospice nurses in Union County are on ERAVE, and as of April, I now have all funeral homes in Union County active on ERAVE,” Primm said.

To learn more about the AAC, visit arcounties. org.