Regional Medical Examiner Office: New Ways of Working

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

When a person dies, the determination of the cause of death can help to solve a crime or reassure a loved one. In preparation for a multi-agency funded relocation from an undersized facility, our in-house medical staff and county partners collaborated to analyze work processes in order to create a new and innovative way of working, resulting in dedicated anthropology and neuropath rooms, a climate-responsive sallyport, better security, a significant increase in capacity, mass-fatality protocols and space, tissue donation in specialty rooms, and the employment of advanced imaging equipment, with measurable benefits. Advanced technologies benefit recruitment and retention of employees and advance the Office’s teaching mission. Employees are rewarded with better working conditions, including ergonomic autopsy tables, natural light and views, and adjacent walking trails through protected forests and wetlands with abundant wildlife viewing, garnering an AIA award for employee health and well-being. Employee-controlled lighting and ventilation serve to save energy and contribute to the state and county’s sustainability goals. Publicity and numerous awards have raised the awareness of this vital government service with the general population. The success of this effort and the on-going work meets all NaCo Award standards and criteria, bridging several award categories.