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Nueces County medical examiner outlines rising caseload, accreditation needs and equipment requests
Summary
Medical Examiner Dr. Mark Fernandez reported increased reports and cases, described accreditation and toxicology challenges tied to synthetic drugs, and requested capital purchases including microscope estimates, bariatric autopsy trays (~$46,100 each) and a van to reduce transport delays.
Dr. Mark Fernandez, the county medical examiner, told the court his office has seen a rising trend in reported deaths and in requests for forensic services and outlined equipment and staffing needs tied to accreditation and increasing case complexity.
He said roughly 2,450 deaths were reported to the medical examiner in 2014, with about 653 of those brought into the office for evaluation. For the first half of 2015 he reported 1,254 reports and 344 bodies brought in—an increase over the comparable six‑month period in 2014. "The numbers are up as far as over time," he said, and noted the office has grown caseloads about 100 cases per year over the last decade.
Dr. Fernandez described intake criteria (violent or suspicious deaths, cases where no treating physician can sign a death certificate, or sudden unexpected deaths) and explained families may request private autopsies when doctors have already signed hospital death certificates.
He reviewed the office’s inspection and accreditation checklist (adopted in 2009) and said inspectors will visit in early August; the office must demonstrate corrective plans for deficiencies and document that outsourced services (toxicology labs and body transport) are accredited and approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Capital items recommended in the budget included an upgraded microscope (he referenced a ~$31,000 model as an example), bariatric autopsy trays (listed in his materials at about $46,100 apiece), and a van to provide in‑house transport capacity during rare periods when contracted vendors cannot meet demand. He said the office currently outsources body transport and toxicology but that both areas have grown in cost and complexity—especially toxicology testing for synthetic drugs and novel compounds.
Commissioners asked about transport delays and the potential for the office to use a county vehicle for training travel and some pickups; Dr. Fernandez said he prefers outsourcing for routine pickups but wants a van as a contingency to avoid delays in rare cases. He also said accreditation could enable the office to accept cases from surrounding counties and that fee schedules may be revised in the future.
No formal action was taken; staff will include the requested capital items and reclassification proposals in the budget worksheets for the court’s August and September reviews.
