Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner

Services Provided:

The Tennessee Violent Death Reporting System (TNVDRS) is a state-based surveillance reporting system that links information about the “who, when, where, and how” from data and provides insights about “why” the deaths occurred. Since 2020, we have collected facts on violent deaths in Tennessee from death certificates, medical examiner reports, and law enforcement reports into one anonymous database. Users can access reports, fact sheets, and submit data requests at https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/oscme/tnvdrs.html

Death Certification Training:

This training will help you better understand best practices in death certification. We will share why it is important to accurately document the cause of death on the death certificate and how to use your best medical judgment to determine accurate information. It includes two videos featuring State Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Adele Lewis and Deputy State Medical Examiner Dr. Amy Hawes.

The training is divided into two parts:
• Part 1: Medical Examiner Jurisdiction, Cause and Manner of Death, and Death Certification
• Part 2: Guidance for Certification of Disaster-Related Death

Free CME/CE is provided for course participants.  Links to the videos, slide deck, and continuing medical education worksheet are here: https://www.tnmed.org/improving-medical-death-certification-cme/.

TN Violent Death Reporting System:

The Tennessee Violent Death Reporting System (TNVDRS) is a state-based surveillance reporting system that links information about the who, when, where, and how from data, and provides insights about why the deaths occurred.

Since 2020, we have collected facts on violent deaths in Tennessee, from death certificates, medical examiner reports, and law enforcement reports. TNVDRS houses this information in one anonymous database where users can access reports and fact sheets. and submit their own data requests.

Contact:

Adele Lewis, MD
State Chief Medical Examiner

Margaret Hyder, MA
Deputy Director

Fran Wheatley, BS, MA, ABMDI - F
Medicolegal Death Investigator

Lindsey Crim, BS, MCJ, ABMDI - F
Medicolegal Death Investigator

Kristen Osgood, BA, ABMDI-D
Medicolegal Death Investigator

Molly Golladay, BS, M.Ed, MAT
Epidemiologist

Erica Martin, RN/BSN
Abstractor

Leah Vanderbush, BS
Abstractor

Bailey Floyd, BS
Administrative Services Assistant

 

Main Office – Nashville

Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner
Andrew Johnson Tower – 2nd Floor
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone: 844-860-4511
Fax: 615-401-2532

Health.OSCME@tn.gov

Satellite Office – Johnson City

Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner
William L. Jenkins Forensic Center
Box 70431
Johnson City, TN 37614
Telephone: 423-439-8403
Fax: 423-439-8810