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County approves one-year contract with Michigan State University for medical examiner services
Summary
Kent County authorized a one-year contract with Michigan State University for medical examiner services on Sept. 23; the county budgeted $2,075,665 for the medical examiner office and MSU's contract portion is $703,404 for the first year, county officials said.
Kent County's Community Health and Safety Committee voted on Sept. 23 to authorize signing a contract with Michigan State University for medical examiner services, the committee chair announced after a motion and second.
County Administrator Vanderburgh said the county budget for the medical examiner office is $2,075,665 and that the MSU contract portion for the first year is $703,404, an increase of roughly $70,000–$75,000 over the prior year. Vanderburgh said the contract will supply physicians from Michigan State University — hired by MSU — to provide forensic pathology services and that Michigan State will staff successors when current physicians retire.
Vanderburgh described a multi-year process to reorganize the county's medical examiner services after a long-time contractor (50-year relationship) ceased providing services. He said discussions with academic partners, including Dr. Joyce DeYoung of the DO medical school in Lansing, led to the MSU arrangement. Vanderburgh said in-house cold-case evaluation capacity will improve because the county previously shipped cold-case remains to Lansing; MSU's facility includes a cold-case room and forensic pathologists on site.
Vanderburgh said the county intends to identify and present a proposed building purchase to the board soon that Michigan State has toured and supports as a medical examiner facility; for now, the county will continue operations at the Corwell location while planning for a long-term site.
Commissioner Hennessy moved the motion to adopt agenda item 5A; Commissioner LeGrande seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with five ayes and no nays recorded. Vanderburgh said the initial contract would be one year with the expectation that a multi-year contract will be considered in the future. He also noted the board names the county medical examiner every four years; Dr. Cole will continue as county medical examiner and Dr. Start as deputy under the contract structure.
Committee members asked whether the county would later hire in-house staff; Vanderburgh said the county is still considering options, including purchasing and outfitting a dedicated building and longer-term staffing models.
