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Wayne County receives MEO turnaround-time report showing steady autopsy and cremation-permit performance
Summary
Deputy director Haralyn Nemo told the Wayne County Health and Human Services Committee that MEO forensic and permitting operations showed steady performance for July9/30 and that staff are pursuing measures to reduce accounts receivable.
Deputy director Haralyn Nemo presented the MEO (Medical Examiner’s Office) turnaround-time analysis for the quarter covering July 1 through Sept. 30.
Nemo reported 3,864 decedents were reported to the office during the quarter and said 3,073 cases were accepted for MEO review. The forensic team completed 708 procedures during the window, including 450 full autopsies, 237 inspections and 22 limited autopsies. Two hundred sixty-five cases required histology evaluations; the average histology turnaround time was 6.2 days.
On cause-of-death determinations, Nemo said 537 of the 708 completed cases received a final cause-of-death within the reporting window with an average turnaround of 17.1 days. Approximately 460 cases were initially pending pending toxicology, histology or additional investigative steps. The office reported 289 cases required amendment with an average amendment turnaround of 32.4 days.
Cremation services accounted for 2,900 permit requests that quarter; Nemo said cremation permits were processed rapidly (same-day or within 24 hours). Financially, the office issued invoices for cremation services; 1,639 invoices were paid this quarter with an average payment time of 48.77 days and 1,261 invoices remained outstanding averaging 39 days. Nemo told the committee the office is monitoring aging invoices and pursuing electronic-payment options and outreach to reduce outstanding balances.
Commissioners thanked staff for improved turnaround times compared with prior years and asked about efforts to reduce outstanding invoices; Nemo said staff are pursuing electronic payments and increased billing follow-up. The committee voted to receive and file the report.
