IPPASOS: The first digital forensic information system in Greece

Area of Science:

• Forensic Medicine
• Digital Health Informatics

Background:

• Forensic units require specialized systems for case management and archiving.
• Existing systems may not adequately support the unique operational needs of forensic pathology services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a novel digital clinical information system for a forensic unit in Greece.
• To assess the system's effectiveness in managing forensic case lifecycles and archives.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative development between the Medical School of the University of Crete and the Forensic Medicine Unit of the University Hospital of Heraklion.
• Involvement of forensic pathologists in system specification and testing.

Main Results:

• The system successfully manages the forensic case lifecycle, including record creation, assignment, document upload, and case closure.
• Over four years (2017-2021), the system recorded 2936 forensic examinations across various categories.

Conclusions:

• This represents the first systematic digital recording of forensic cases in Greece.
• The system demonstrates effectiveness, daily usability, and significant potential for data extraction and future research.