| MCMEA News MISSOURI CORONERS' AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS' ASSOCIATION January 2012 |
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2011 went by in a flash and 2012 has a good start. My term as president is rapidly approaching conclusion
coroners filed by citizens and complaints filed by some of our own complaining about various matters. For the
most part I think all of the complaints have been dealt with however I am sure there are one or two people who are
still unhappy. Sorry we can't please everyone.
I truly enjoyed traveling to the various troop meetings. It was a good opportunity to visit one on one with many of
the coroners not to mention the great food. Thanks to Roger and Eddie for attending the two I could not attend.
I believe we need to continue with our efforts to improve training for our coroners and deputy coroners. I know
some of you have expressed concerns with the mandatory training for deputy coroners. Being a coroner or deputy
coroner can be an awesome responsibility. The ruling you make can have significant impact on several people. I
would hope that each of you would want to be as equipped as possible to make those rulings and determinations.
Training is important to assist you in making those rulings.
The most common complaint concerning the mandatory training I have heard is "My county cannot afford to pay
for the training." I realize many counties are financially strapped however I am sure those same counties have
deputy sheriffs and they have to be trained to hold those positions. Perhaps deputy coroners could receive training
money from that same fund. You might want to check with your sheriff and/or prosecuting attorney for funding
assistance.
COMING SOON.....If the coroner or deputy coroner has not received the mandatory training as required by
statute they will not be permitted to sign death certificates.
A word of caution to all coroners. If the sheriff or chief deputy sheriff is acting as coroner, as provided by
statute, they should be the person signing the death certificate. If your county is using the electronic filing just call
vital records in Jefferson City and they can assist the sheriff in signing. We recently had a case where the coroner
was not available and the sheriff acted as coroner. There was no autopsy or toxicology. Based on the person's
past history of drug and alcohol abuse, the sheriff's department report concluded the person died of an overdose
and the coroner, relying on the sheriff's department report, signed the death certificate and the body was
cremated. (see where this is going)
Now the family of the deceased is demanding to know why the person died. They have written a complaint
letter to the governor and the highway patrol conducted an investigation. Bottom line.....no one knows why this
under 50 year old female died. The coroner is catching the brunt of the complaints and this is still ongoing. This is
just another reason why training is so important.
Some of you might remember that last year we tried to get a law passed concerning crime scene photos. We
are trying to restrict gross crime scene photos from being released to the general public and the news media. We
got started too late and the bill went nowhere. This year the bill number is House Bill #1127. Please go on line
and read the bill and then contact your state representative and solicit his support. The bill was introduced by
Representative Scott Largent who is a former coroner. Please ask your representative to contact Scott and offer
their support.
coroners filed by citizens and complaints filed by some of our own complaining about various matters. For the
most part I think all of the complaints have been dealt with however I am sure there are one or two people who are
still unhappy. Sorry we can't please everyone.
I truly enjoyed traveling to the various troop meetings. It was a good opportunity to visit one on one with many of
the coroners not to mention the great food. Thanks to Roger and Eddie for attending the two I could not attend.
I believe we need to continue with our efforts to improve training for our coroners and deputy coroners. I know
some of you have expressed concerns with the mandatory training for deputy coroners. Being a coroner or deputy
coroner can be an awesome responsibility. The ruling you make can have significant impact on several people. I
would hope that each of you would want to be as equipped as possible to make those rulings and determinations.
Training is important to assist you in making those rulings.
The most common complaint concerning the mandatory training I have heard is "My county cannot afford to pay
for the training." I realize many counties are financially strapped however I am sure those same counties have
deputy sheriffs and they have to be trained to hold those positions. Perhaps deputy coroners could receive training
money from that same fund. You might want to check with your sheriff and/or prosecuting attorney for funding
assistance.
COMING SOON.....If the coroner or deputy coroner has not received the mandatory training as required by
statute they will not be permitted to sign death certificates.
A word of caution to all coroners. If the sheriff or chief deputy sheriff is acting as coroner, as provided by
statute, they should be the person signing the death certificate. If your county is using the electronic filing just call
vital records in Jefferson City and they can assist the sheriff in signing. We recently had a case where the coroner
was not available and the sheriff acted as coroner. There was no autopsy or toxicology. Based on the person's
past history of drug and alcohol abuse, the sheriff's department report concluded the person died of an overdose
and the coroner, relying on the sheriff's department report, signed the death certificate and the body was
cremated. (see where this is going)
Now the family of the deceased is demanding to know why the person died. They have written a complaint
letter to the governor and the highway patrol conducted an investigation. Bottom line.....no one knows why this
under 50 year old female died. The coroner is catching the brunt of the complaints and this is still ongoing. This is
just another reason why training is so important.
Some of you might remember that last year we tried to get a law passed concerning crime scene photos. We
are trying to restrict gross crime scene photos from being released to the general public and the news media. We
got started too late and the bill went nowhere. This year the bill number is House Bill #1127. Please go on line
and read the bill and then contact your state representative and solicit his support. The bill was introduced by
Representative Scott Largent who is a former coroner. Please ask your representative to contact Scott and offer
their support.
| PRESIDENT'S CORNER |
John Clifton
Dennis Turner will be resigning at the end of the year as the MCMEA Representative on the County Employees
Retirement Fund (CERF) Board of Directors. After the resignation of John Prince (2) members had shown an interest in the
position and Dennis Turner was elected and has served 3 years and has given his letter of resignation at the end of the year.
Mark Bridges, Newton County Coroner was appointed by the Board of Directors to serve as the MCMEA Representative on the
CERF Board. Mark will be appointed at the beginning of 2012.
Thanks to Dennis for your time and dedication as the MCMEA Representative on the CERF Board and keeping the
membership abreast of issues.
Retirement Fund (CERF) Board of Directors. After the resignation of John Prince (2) members had shown an interest in the
position and Dennis Turner was elected and has served 3 years and has given his letter of resignation at the end of the year.
Mark Bridges, Newton County Coroner was appointed by the Board of Directors to serve as the MCMEA Representative on the
CERF Board. Mark will be appointed at the beginning of 2012.
Thanks to Dennis for your time and dedication as the MCMEA Representative on the CERF Board and keeping the
membership abreast of issues.
MARK BRIDGES TO SERVE AS CERF REPRESENTATIVE
The spring session will be March 27-29 at the Truman Hotel. Please make your reservations early. Eddie has a good program lined up.
In closing I would like to thank Eddie Wilson for is valuable assistance and thank all the troop directors for their efforts.
It has been an honor to serve as president and I look forward to working with all of you in the future. Hopefully all of us will be re-elected and can
stay around for awhile longer.
See ya in March,
In closing I would like to thank Eddie Wilson for is valuable assistance and thank all the troop directors for their efforts.
It has been an honor to serve as president and I look forward to working with all of you in the future. Hopefully all of us will be re-elected and can
stay around for awhile longer.
See ya in March,
In 2004, legislation was passed in Missouri that required the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of
Vital Records to develop and maintain an electronic system to register births and deaths. Additional legislation was passed in
2010 that required data providers to utilize the electronic death registration system within six months of the system being certified
certified the electronic registration system as operational. All data providers will be required to utilize the electronic system
beginning April 1, 2012.
The Bureau of Vital Records staff has initiated instructor-led trainings for providers at various locations throughout Missouri
to ensure readiness to comply. To assist with training certifiers such as physicians, medical examiners and coroners, a webinar,
accessible through the internet, has been developed. The webinar will allow certifiers to take advantage of the training within their
own environment, at their convenience, eliminating the need for travel. However, instructor-led group classes will continue to be
scheduled based on request.
The Department of Health and Senior Services would like to enlist your support to disseminate information about the
availability of the webinar to your members responsible for completing and signing certificates of death. The webinar training may
be accessed at http://health.mo.gov/training/moevr/index.php and can be viewed in approximately 20 minutes. At the conclusion
of the webinar, there is a short questionnaire requesting contact information. After completing the questionnaire, a link is available
to a Vital Records User Access Request form. To request access to the electronic vital records system, this form must be
completed, signed and mailed to the Bureau of Vital Records. You will be contacted by phone or email with your user name,
temporary password and link to the Missouri Electronic Vital Record (MoEVR) application.
Your cooperation in sharing this information with your members and including it in your newsletter, if possible, will assist in
ensuring that all data providers are aware of this requirement and have had the opportunity to obtain training. If you have any
questions, please contact me at (573) 526-0348.
Sincerely,
Ivra J. Cross, State Registrar
Bureau of Vital Records
Vital Records to develop and maintain an electronic system to register births and deaths. Additional legislation was passed in
2010 that required data providers to utilize the electronic death registration system within six months of the system being certified
certified the electronic registration system as operational. All data providers will be required to utilize the electronic system
beginning April 1, 2012.
The Bureau of Vital Records staff has initiated instructor-led trainings for providers at various locations throughout Missouri
to ensure readiness to comply. To assist with training certifiers such as physicians, medical examiners and coroners, a webinar,
accessible through the internet, has been developed. The webinar will allow certifiers to take advantage of the training within their
own environment, at their convenience, eliminating the need for travel. However, instructor-led group classes will continue to be
scheduled based on request.
The Department of Health and Senior Services would like to enlist your support to disseminate information about the
availability of the webinar to your members responsible for completing and signing certificates of death. The webinar training may
be accessed at http://health.mo.gov/training/moevr/index.php and can be viewed in approximately 20 minutes. At the conclusion
of the webinar, there is a short questionnaire requesting contact information. After completing the questionnaire, a link is available
to a Vital Records User Access Request form. To request access to the electronic vital records system, this form must be
completed, signed and mailed to the Bureau of Vital Records. You will be contacted by phone or email with your user name,
temporary password and link to the Missouri Electronic Vital Record (MoEVR) application.
Your cooperation in sharing this information with your members and including it in your newsletter, if possible, will assist in
ensuring that all data providers are aware of this requirement and have had the opportunity to obtain training. If you have any
questions, please contact me at (573) 526-0348.
Sincerely,
Ivra J. Cross, State Registrar
Bureau of Vital Records
ELECTRONIC DEATH REGISTRATION WEBINAR AVAILABLE
Ivra Cross, Missouri State Registrar in the Bureau of Vital Records has announced her retirement from DHSS effective January
31, 2012. The Department is pleased to announce Craig Ward has been appointed by the Missouri Department of Health and
Senior Services’ Director to serve in this capacity. Craig assumes this new role effective February 1, 2012. In his position as
Research Manager first with the Bureau of Health Informatics and currently with the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Craig has worked
closely with Ivra and has become familiar with the role and responsibilities of this position. Craig will remain the Chief of the
Bureau of Vital Statistics and his responsibilities will be expanded to include duties as the state registrar.
We are excited to welcome Craig to this new role in the Department.
Harold Kirbey, Director
Division of Community and Public Health
31, 2012. The Department is pleased to announce Craig Ward has been appointed by the Missouri Department of Health and
Senior Services’ Director to serve in this capacity. Craig assumes this new role effective February 1, 2012. In his position as
Research Manager first with the Bureau of Health Informatics and currently with the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Craig has worked
closely with Ivra and has become familiar with the role and responsibilities of this position. Craig will remain the Chief of the
Bureau of Vital Statistics and his responsibilities will be expanded to include duties as the state registrar.
We are excited to welcome Craig to this new role in the Department.
Harold Kirbey, Director
Division of Community and Public Health
NEW MISSOURI STATE REGISTRAR