Monroe County New York Office of the Medical Examiner Backlog Reduction and Accreditation Project

There is an expectation that Medicolegal Death Investigations are performed in a timely and scientifically accurate fashion. A benchmark for this is accreditation of both an agency and its personnel. This project will prepare the Monroe County Office of the Medical Examiner for accreditation by ensuring that timely case completion is possible and that staff is properly trained and personally accredited according to the standards set by the appropriate agency, either the National Association of Medical Examiners or the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI). The project proposed to accomplish this provides training to appropriate staff that involves specialized teaching such as forensic anthropology and other investigative techniques as well as attending national meetings wherein contemporary ideas are shared amongst peers.

Additionally, through the utilization of additional contract resources, backlogged cases will be eliminated by allowing newer cases to be addressed by contract staff quickly and efficiently. Without a backlog, appropriate standards can be met including timely completion of cases and ancillary duties, such as process reviews and policy maintenance. Finally, all field investigative staff will be afforded the opportunity to attain diplomate status though the review and testing process of the ABMDI. These three areas, coupled with existing facilities and processes, should place this office in a position wherein inspection towards accreditation is reasonable and likely to be successful.

CA/NCF