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Board approves four-year renewal with WMED for medical examiner services
Summary
Van Buren County commissioners approved a four-year renewal with Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMED) to provide medical examiner services, including an annual fixed fee of $82,005.99 and a variable autopsy cost of approximately $2,008.40 per case.
Van Buren County approved a four-year renewal of its medical examiner services contract with Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine on March 11.
County staff described the long-term relationship with WMED, which provides death investigations, autopsies and related administrative and software support (MDILog). The renewal covers the period April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2029, and includes a total fixed cost of $82,005.99 for administration, investigations and software assistance. Variable costs for autopsies were reported in the meeting packet at $2,008.40 per autopsy; total annual variable expense depends on case volume.
Staff said the contract increase (about 3% over the prior year) aligns with cost adjustments at other counties and with WMED's effort to standardize pricing across jurisdictions. The sheriff's office expressed satisfaction with WMED's services. Commissioners approved forwarding the contract for final approval at the March 25 Board of Commissioners meeting; the motion passed during the March 11 session to place the item on that docket for formal adoption.
