DEATH INVESTIGATOR / ST. CHARLES COUNTY - REGIONAL MEDICAL EXAMINER

This is a full-time, 40 hour per week position which includes a full range of benefits including Paid Time Off, Extended Medical Leave, Holidays, Employee Health, Dental, Life, Disability, Retirement, and Tuition Assistance programs.

The purpose of this position is to Investigate all deaths in accordance with Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 58.The work is performed under the supervision of the Chief Death Investigator.

Job Description

Receives and screens all initial death reports, determines whether jurisdiction is accepted and if so, the scope of the investigation required.

Investigates suspicious, unnatural or violent deaths; conducts follow-up investigations, death notifications, and forensic identifications; investigates circumstances of death by obtaining personal information and medical history through interviews and review of records.

Establishes initial assessment of cause and manner of death.

Prepares detailed narrative reports analyzing the circumstances of death, scene, and pertinent information regarding the deceased for the Chief Death Investigator, ensuring all information is available in order to determine cause and manner of death.

Prepares detailed, objective narrative reports analyzing the circumstances of death and pertinent information regarding the deceased and enter case into Medical Examiner database.

Verbally presents case information coherently and in a methodical and professional fashion to Medical Examiners, associates, medical personnel and others.

Performs death scene investigations; coordinates with law enforcement as necessary; interviews family members and witnesses, gathers forensic scene information, seizes evidence and photographs the scene; maintains chain of custody by means of photography and/or physical seizure of evidence.

Ensures accurate identification of decedents, securing or arranging for dental and skeletal x-rays, fingerprints, DNA reference samples, and other evidence as necessary.

Arranges for family viewing as necessary for identification; Assists in the appropriate identification of the decedent, and determines/coordinates proper disposition of the body, including removal and transportation of the body to the morgue; Identify legal next of kin and makes notification of death to next of kin personally or in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies; Communicates effectively and deals compassionately with grieving family members.

Performs medical records review of nursing home and hospice deaths that are received via fax. Follow up on incomplete death reports from nursing home and hospice agencies; Identify and assign case type (natural vs. non-natural); conduct investigations of non-natural nursing home and hospice deaths.; Thorough documentation of trauma is required for non-natural deaths. Prepare

detailed, objective narrative reports analyzing the circumstances of death and pertinent information regarding the deceased requiring Medical Examiner certification of death.

Performs follow-up investigations and investigations related to returned death certificates, as required. Contacts family members and others having knowledge of the decedent, requests medical records from physicians, hospitals and other medical facilities and notifies primary care physician. Consults with certifying physicians concerning cause and manner of death.

Conducts special investigations at the request of the Chief Medical Examiner (e.g. suicide vs. accidental death evaluations, conducting interviews in police custody deaths, and scene recreations of infant deaths).

Performs "case management" daily; reviews new cases, identifies areas of needed correction; communicates with other investigators for necessary follow up; prepares case folders and requests necessar