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Medical Examiner to replace toxicologist lead with quality-assurance manager as lab gains ISO accreditation
Summary
Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office asked the Personnel Committee to abolish a lead forensic toxicologist position and create a quality assurance manager role to support recent accreditation and an upcoming move to a new facility; the committee recommended the item for adoption, 5-0.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office on April 8 asked the Personnel Committee to abolish a lead forensic toxicologist position and create a quality assurance manager position to oversee laboratory quality systems and documentation as the lab transitions to a new accreditation standard and moves into a new facility. The committee recommended the item for adoption, 5-0.
Dr. Yoswaba Twomag, chief medical examiner, and Greg Wallace, director of toxicology, told the committee the office recently shifted from American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) oversight to ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and needs a dedicated quality role to maintain continuous quality assurance and standard operating procedures. The proposal is budget-neutral, the presenters said, because the vacant lead toxicologist position’s funds would be used for the new quality-assurance role.
Nut graf: The change is administrative and intended to align the toxicology lab’s staffing with the documentation, workflow and continuous-improvement expectations of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and the department’s planned move to a new facility.
Greg Wallace described the quality-assurance manager’s duties as preparing and reviewing laboratory workflows, process-improvement documentation and test records. Dr. Twomag updated the committee on the Medical Examiner’s new facility: an on-site visit occurred in January and a second visit in March; the building is expected to be completed April 26 with a phased move likely in June. The presenters said the new facility will house a Siemens CT scanner and other equipment that will expand noninvasive examination options, including external exams with CT imaging for families who object to autopsy on religious grounds.
Supervisor Wasserman asked whether the same individual would occupy the revised role; the toxicology director said the change formally refocuses the former lead role to emphasize continuous quality assurance rather than dual supervisory duties. The committee approved the request on a motion by Supervisor Wasserman, 5-0.
Ending: Medical Examiner’s Office said it will coordinate the move and provide dates for facility occupancy; the committee approved the staffing title change and the department expects the new lab quality role to support ongoing ISO/IEC 17025 compliance.
