The Forensic Autopsy Technician prepares bodies for postmortem examinations, assists pathologist
during and after the examination, and prepares body for release to funeral home; provide medical
photography services. Provides support with transfer of cadavers to anatomy laboratory and into storage,
maintenance of cadavers and the anatomy lab, and assisting with prosections of cadavers, as needed.
Performs routine and non-routine activities involved in the storage, filing, and preparation of slides for
microscopic evaluation and adheres to established quality control criteria and established procedures.
BENEFITS
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Wellness reimbursement.
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Continuing education and tuition reimbursement.
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Employer-funded retirement plan.
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Two medical plan options: PPO and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with employer HSA contribution.
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Flexible work solutions based on position and department.
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Up to four weeks of PTO accrual beginning in year one.
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Paid holidays.
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Paid volunteer time.
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Paid preferred holiday.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
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Coordinates workload to complete assignments within requested time frame. Prepares paperwork and tools to accomplish the daily workload.
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Responsible for the receipt, identification and transfer of all decedents into and out of WMed, maintaining chain of custody protocols in accordance with WMed protocols and in compliance with standards set forth by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME).
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Performs postmortem radiography according to safety standards, including Lodox ®, Carestream, computed tomography (CT) and assists with postmortem dental radiography, as needed.
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Responsible for the collection and preservation of clothing, physical and biological evidence for forensic analysis. Documents and maintains evidentiary materials in accordance with established policies and procedures, including chain of custody protocols compliant with standards set forth by NAME.
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Responsible for the collection, appropriate labeling, documentation and packaging of specimens for toxicological analysis maintaining chain of custody protocols and in accordance with NAME standards.
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Documents external examination, including: verification of decedent identification, photographs and documents all personal belongings and items pertinent to examination, including medical treatment, decedent identifiers and evidentiary materials, if applicable.
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Under direct supervision of the assigned pathologist, performs in situ dissection of the autopsy procedure, including the identification, observation and evisceration of organs and tissues from the chest, abdomen and head.
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Responsible for the documentation of examination information, observations, weights, and measurements following established procedures. Photographs medical/forensic materials with accurate labeling, uploads digital photographs to case management system.
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Following examination, prepares decedent for funeral home and notifies funeral home and/or transport service, if applicable. Documents all communication.
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With supervision, oversees the release of decedents to funeral homes and/or appropriate transport services.
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Maintains morgue organization and cleanliness; ensures surfaces are free of blood and body fluids.
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Disposes of hazardous waste and specimen storage appropriately.
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Responsible for maintaining daily log of cooler inventory of decedents and specimens, temperature monitoring and laboratory supplies.
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Practices universal precautions and follows infection control policies and procedures accordingly.
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Assists in the Anatomy Laboratory, including support with transfer of cadavers, maintenance of cadavers, and cleanliness.
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Assists in the Anthropology Laboratory, as needed, transferring decedents/specimens and decedents for examination.
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Attends and engages in all unit and departmental meetings.
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Maintains a clean and well-organized work area
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At times, may be responsible for cleaning up bodily fluids from decedents/cadavers outside of department.
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Availability to work weekends and holidays.
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Availability to work occasional overtime or evenings to complete time sensitive projects.
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Availability to provide on-call, overnight customer service with occasional response to morgue for time sensitive release procedures.
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Availability to work occasional overtime on weekends or evenings to complete time sensitive projects.
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Acquires knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions
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All other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
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Associate degree; or two years of college in a scientific or applicable field, preferred.
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Knowledge of anatomy and medical terminology, preferred.
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Previous volunteer or work experience in a medical or patient care setting, required.
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Experience labeling, managing, organizing, and shipping samples, preferred.
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Experience operating cassette and slide printing equipment, preferred.
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Experience operating laboratory equipment, including centrifuge and specimen labeling printers, preferred.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS:
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Current valid Driver's License required.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
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Comfortable communicating with grieving individuals.
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The ability to follow detailed oral and written directions and protocols.
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Ability to attend to human remains in various stages of decomposition, disease and trauma.
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Able to cope with the psychological effects of death.
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Maintain the confidentiality and integrity of information.
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Ability to adhere to stringent sanitation and biohazard control measures.
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Demonstrates the ability to recognize priorities in organization of work flow.
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Able to perform duties independently, with a minimal need for direct supervision.
About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed)
We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-centered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a welcoming, supportive, and engaging culture. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.
The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Beacon and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. WMed is the recipient of a $100 million foundational gift and the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide, as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs, with an estimated annual economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.
WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program as well as a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Sciences. We train physicians in 10 residencies and four fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas. Faculty in the Department of Pathology serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana.
The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, faculty and administrative offices, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs.
WMed builds upon Kalamazoo’s century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school’s advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with applicable State and Federal law.
