The DWC Database
The State of California Division of Workers' Compensation
maintains a central database containing all active WCAB cases
in California. This database also includes many past workers'
compensation cases.
When the DWC data system was
created in 1988 all workers' compensation case files
physically located at each board were recorded in the data
system. No age criteria was applied to the files recorded. All
workers' compensation cases filed subsequent to the creation
of the data system are in the DWC database.
The DWC
database is utilized by the local WCAB offices as a case
management system. All new workers' compensation case
activity, including hearing schedules are recorded and
maintained in the DWC database.
The DWC processes all
EDEX activity five times daily. The processing of inquiries
take place Monday through Friday excluding federal and state
holidays at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m.
and 8:30 p.m. PST.
IBM Global Network
The IBM Global Network is a private value added network
(VAN) that is utilized as the transport vehicle for EDEX
transactions. Each subscriber to EDEX is assigned a unique
User ID or electronic mailbox on the IBM network. The DWC also
maintains an electronic mailbox on the IBM network. All
transmissions of data to or from the DWC are conducted through
these electronic mailboxes.
When an EDEX subscriber
queries the DWC database, the inquiry is transmitted from its
computer via modem or SSL enabled Internet connection to
the DWC mailbox on the IBM network. The DWC downloads all EDEX
transactions from its mailbox at the specified processing time
and processes against the data requested. Upon completion of
processing, the requested data is then transmitted to the
requesting subscriber mailbox on the IBM Network. The case
information is then downloaded to the subscriber's computer
from its mailbox on the IBM Network. In addition to the
inquiry responses, all notifications of significant case
activity and hearing notices will process at the same
time. Although filing liens can no longer be done
electronically, we can help them speed up their process by
auto-populating the EAMS OCR forms with EDEX data. CompData
provides the necessary User ID (electronic mailbox) to the
subscriber to access EDEX.
