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Island County Infant
and Child
Death Review
PUBLIC HEALTH - Always working for
safer and healthier communities
Susan Wagner, Committee Coordinator
(360) 678-7918 |
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We have a vision of health and well-being
for our children. We look forward to a day when no deaths can be classified as
preventable, but until that day we are all obligated to help each other guarantee child
safety. We cannot relax our vigilance on the behalf of our kids. Our community has many
things of which to be proud, but none compares to the health of our children.
Mission
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT A COMMUNITY MONITOR
THE HEALTH OF ITS CHILDREN. Convened in the summer of 1996 by the Island County Health
Department, the Island County Infant and Child Death Review Team (ICDR) was among the
first organizations of its kind in Washington. Its purpose is to determine whether the
death of a child might have been prevented by an agency and/or individual. The process
involves the regular and systematic review of unexpected deaths among infants and children
who died in Island County and are under 18 years old by a multidisciplinary team.
Additional objectives include enhancing interagency communication and improving the
quality of data on child deaths to identify risk factors and preventive strategies. The
Team makes recommendations for the development of public policy and community and
professional education.
Goal
The Team meets every three to six months. Through careful review, enhanced interagency
communication, and education, we hope to improve the reporting and investigation of
these deaths and decrease their occurrence in the future.
Team Composition
The ICDR Team has representation from several county agencies and disciplines concerned
with child well-being. Members include: the County Coroner; the Health Officer; community
pediatricians; the Prosecuting Attorney (or designee); and representatives from Child
Protective Services and Island County Sheriff's Office; Oak Harbor, Coupeville, and/or
Langley Police Department members; Island County Emergency Medical Services (first
responders), school districts, and Health Dekpartment. Other individuals with experience
related to an individual case may be invited to attend the death review meeting.
Methods
Cases are selected by the County Coroner and Health Officer, and include all unexpected
deaths of Island County residents under 18 years of age which occurred during the
preceding three to six months. A standard format is followed with review of information
from the autopsy, the death scene investigation, the child's medical and family history,
and discussions with health and social service providers. A complete autopsy involves both
an internal and external examination of the body and toxicology, and may include
microscopic examination and other studies. A scheme for coding causes of death based on
the International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, and a schedule for biennial
review was created. A standardized child death review data collection form from the
Washington State Department of Health is utilized.
Preventabilty
In reviewing each death the Team considers whether or not the death was preventable by an
agency or an individual. The final determination is achieved by consensus.
Confidentiality
Information analyzed through the ICDR Team review process is kept strictly confidential.
All case identifying information available to Team members is to be used only for purposes
of the review itself. The information is not subject to disclosure through subpoenaed
testimony or requests for discovery.
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