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Medical examiner reports fewer overdose deaths and a new electronic reporting system
Summary
Sanilac County's medical examiner reported a modest caseload decline (72 cases), 12 autopsies, no overdose deaths in 2024, and rollout of an EPIC-integrated electronic field reporting system that uploads photos and case data to hospital records.
The county medical examiner presented a five-year snapshot at the May 6 meeting noting 72 cases in the most recent reporting year and 12 completed autopsies. The office reported zero overdose deaths in 2024 and an increase in child-death reviews driven by a 2021 rule change that requires review when a county resident dies outside the county.
The examiner described implementing an electronic field reporting system integrated with the EPIC medical-record platform. "We hit 72," the examiner said when summarizing caseload totals, and he explained the system allows MESIs (the boots-on-the-ground examiners) to enter investigation steps on a mobile device and automatically upload photographs to a secure cloud linked to EPIC. He also highlighted prevention efforts, saying the office will supply Narcan if needed and credited education and jail reentry programs for improving outcomes. The presentation emphasized the operational benefits of the EMR integration (no cost to the county) and training already provided to field staff.
