Medical Examiner's Online Portal

2023 NACo Achievement Award Winner

Cook County, Ill., IL

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About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The Medical Examiner's Office went fully "live" with an internet-based portal in Spring 2022. Users are now able to request a number of services online, eliminating the need for them to physically go to the Medical Examiner's facility, or to transact business via mail. Funeral directors can apply for cremation permits, attorneys are able to submit subpoenas for records, and members of the general public may request a variety of records online. Users of the portal have the ability to pay fees associated with their requests using a credit card or check. Reports are made available to the requestors on the portal and no longer mailed. Customer service has improved as customers are now able to request and receive reports and cremation permits online, eliminating the need to visit the Medical Examiner's Office in-person. The new online portal proved extremely useful during the COVID pandemic, allowing for business as usual. The Medical Examiner's Office worked with the Bureau of Technology and the Department of Revenue to allow portal users to pay online through a credit card or check which has also improved timeliness and customer service. Through the portal, funeral directors can now receive cremation permits 24/7. Since, the portal is linked to our case management system, the medical examiner's investigators who work around the clock can process cremation permit requests during times when the business office is closed. Prior to implementation of the portal, cremation permits were faxed to the Medical Records section where they were reviewed only during regular business hours.

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