NVSS Modernization Tool Kit

Carrying out a process analysis and gathering requirements are important steps when exploring FHIR based interoperability. These links provide comprehensive trainings on the ‘how to’ for carrying out these important first steps.

• Carrying Out a Business Process Analysis with Examples
• Introduction to Collaborative Requirements Development Approach
• Mortality Workflows for As-is and To-be Death Data [PDF - 494 KB]

If you are acquiring a new EDRS, upgrading an existing one or simply looking for best practices related to establishing an EDRS, this section will provide you with relevant resources. Also included is a document describing “Nightingale,” a prototype electronic death registration system that was developed in house by NCHS and MITRE which is used in testing.

• Electronic Death Registration System Online Reference Manual: A Resource for Jurisdictions [PDF – 2 MB]
• Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS) Prototype - Nightingale Project · GitHub

This section is comprised of open sources tools developed by NCHS and its technical partners to facilitate FHIR based interoperability  between EDRS-to-NCHS and CMS-to-EDRS flows. Sample resources include FHIR implementation guide, code libraries and testing framework, FHIR APIs and Servers and a tool to help map to FHIR resources.

A. General Implementation Guidance

• Vital Records Death Reporting FHIR Implementation Guide
• Vital Records FHIR Messaging Implementation Guide
• Medicolegal Death Investigation FHIR Implementation Guide
• Birth and Fetal Death Reporting FHIR Implementation Guide

B. Connecting EDRS to NCHS

• Open source libraries for consuming and producing FHIR-based mortality data
  • VRDR dot net library
  • VRDR java library

• Open source Nightingale EDRS - an EDRS prototype
  • Online version of source code and related documentation

• Open source Canary testing framework
  • Online version of source code and related documentation
• Open source NVSS Application Programming Interface (API)
  • Reference API for NCHS
  • Reference Client for NVSS API

C. Connecting Medical Examiner/Coroner Case Management Systems (CMS)  to EDRS

• Raven Platform - Raven is a proof-of-concept platform that provides a reference implementation and testing tools for the interoperability between case management system (CMS) and electronic death registration system (EDRS).
• Raven Documentation - This documentation exists as a guide to help users understand the Raven platform, providing both end-user manuals as well as technical documentation.
• Raven - This is a link to a runnable Raven app. Users can validate, import, view, and simulate MDI-based CMS data.
• Open source libraries for consuming and producing FHIR-based MDI data
  • MDI .NET library
  • MDI .Java library

D. SMART ON FHIR

• SMART on FHIR  SMART Tech Stack for Health Apps (note approaches to authorization and authentication)
  • http://docs.smarthealthit.org/external icon
  • https://github.com/smart-on-fhirexternal icon
• Design and evaluation considerations for mobile applications and other tools to support death certification [PDF - 167 KB]

If you are new to FHIR based interoperability or looking to understand key concepts better, this section will be useful. It  contains on-demand  training resources on FHIR, interoperability and informatics as well as links to policy/guidance documents related to data modernization at CDC and ONC.

A. Training Resources on Public Health Informatics, Interoperability and FHIR

This list contains a wide range of free and at cost training resources in the form of online videos, podcasts and written documents to improve workforce capacity and training in public health informatics, interoperability and FHIR.

• Training Resources [PDF - 83 KB]
• The Public Health Interoperability Training Catalog - The Public Health Interoperability Training Catalog is a curated set of training and education resources, tools, presentations, and publications on interoperability—both general and specifically for public health. The resources encompass a wide variety of topics including general interoperability and standards, public health informatics, governance, data quality, and terminology.

B. Overall Policy and Guidance Documents (e.g. USCDI, ONC, etc)

• Office of the National Coordinator
• United States Core Data for Interoperability

C. Data Modernization in Public Health

• CDC’s Data Modernization Initiative

D. Jurisdictional sharing in the vital records space 

• Jurisdictional Database: includes information on system vendor details, fees, sex designation, electronic filing, and other items of interest to the vital records community.
• COSY: Repository for shared open-source code provided by members of the public health Vital Records/Vital Statistics community.

Both databases are managed and maintained by NAPHSIS on behalf of its members. For more information please send an email to Systems@naphsis.org.

This section includes recorded trainings on how to use tools developed by NCHS and its technical partners to facilitate FHIR based interoperability. Also included are presentations from prior meetings on topics of interest. This component of the Tool Kit is growing with new content being added over time.