State Spotlight - Alaska

Last updated:  August 2008

Kathleen Hickman
Alaska Medical Examiner's Office
4500 South Boniface Parkway
Anchorage, AK 99507-1270
Phone: 907-334-2204
Fax: 907-334-2216
Email: Kathleen_Hickman@health.state.ak.us

Michael Valiquette
Maternal, Infant Mortality Review/Child Death Review Manager
State of Alaska HSS/DPS/MCH Epi
3601 "C" Street, Ste. 540
Anchorage, AK 99524
Phone:  907-269-3401
Fax:  907-269-3493
Email:  michael.valiquette@health.state.ak.us
Website:  http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/mchepi

Tools
 Reports
Mortality Statistics Program Description

Administration
Alaska has two review programs:  The Maternal-Infant, Child Death Review (MIMR-CDR) and the Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT).

MIMR-CDR has been in place since 1991.  Initially, the program only review maternal, infant and fetal deaths.  In 2005, the age criteria was expanded to include children up to age 18.  This is a fully funded program through the MCH Block Grant with 1.0 FTE and is housed in the Section of Women, Child, and Family Health.

CFRT was established by statute (section 12.65.120 to .140) in 1998.  There is no budget for this program and it is housed in the Medical Examiner's Office.

Teams
MIMR-CDR committee members are on a voluntary basis.  Before appointment to the committee can be obtained a rigorous appointment process must be followed.

CFRT committee members are specified in Alaska statute.  This CFRT  state level team is mandatory.  The chairperson of the state team is the state medical examiner.  The state team conducts retrospective/periodic reviews. Local teams are permitted.

Reviews
The MIMR/CDR program reviews maternal, fetal, infant and child deaths up to age 18.  All deaths occurring in the state of Alaska that meet this age criteria are reviewed.  All reviews are conducted retrospectively, with the committee meeting on a monthly basis.  

The CFRT program reviews all prosecutable deaths, ages 0 to 18, focusing on legal issues surrounding the death and only reviewing those deaths that go through the Medical Examiner's Office.  All reviews are required to be completed within 48 hours from the time of death. 

Purpose
The final products of MIMR-CDR are reports with public health interventions.

The final product of CFRT is a decision on legal action.

Data
MIMR-CDR utilizes standardized data reporting forms, which are completed for all reviews.  All information is then entered and stored in separated databases.

Paper forms are completed on all cases reviewed by CFRT. 

Annual Report
Alaska has an annual statistical report on child and adolescent deaths but no CFR annual report has been published.

Prevention Initiatives
Unknown.

Protocols
Alaska has CDR meeting and confidentiality protocols in place.

Training
MIMR-CDR holds an annual conference where information and findings are disseminated for Committee Members and other interested parties.  A guest speaker provides training on various topics relating to deaths of persons ages 0 to 18.