Vancouver, WA – The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office was reaccredited this week for the sixth year by the National Association of Medical Examiners.

In July 2010, the Medical Examiner’s Office became Washington’s fourth and the nation’s 55th local death investigation office to be accredited by the association. It has been reaccredited annually since then.

National accreditation means the autopsy and examination procedures, record keeping, investigations, laboratory work and other functions performed by the Medical Examiner office are being done in a professional, accurate and timely manner. It also makes the county eligible for federal money from the Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program.

The designation assures residents of Clark County, and those of Skamania and Klickitat counties which contract for medical examiner services with Clark County, that work done by the Medical Examiner office is of the highest quality.

“The citizens can be proud of the hard work, dedication and leadership made by you and your staff in attaining this accreditation,” Dr. Barbara Wolf, chair of the association’s inspection and accreditation committee, wrote in a letter to Clark County Medical Examiner Dr. Dennis Wickham.

During the extensive 2010 accreditation review and onsite inspection, the ME’s office met more than 300 standards, including implementing an emergency mass fatalities incident plan.

Association executives inspect each applicant office every five years. They last visited Clark County’s Medical Examiner’s Office in 2015.

Annual accreditations are based on a 31-page checklist regarding every aspect of the office’s operations.

CONTACT
Nikki Costa
Medical Examiner's Office
(360) 397-8405 ext. 2595
nikki.costa@clark.wa.gov