Dane County and La Crosse County, which share staff needed for death investigations, may soon expand their partnership.
A nationwide shortage of forensic pathologists and tight budgets for local governments is prompting partnerships such as the one in southwest Wisconsin.
Two years ago, Dane County switched from an elected coroner to a professional medical examiner. It's become a regional service with 10 other counties paying Dane County for autopsies and death investigations.
A national report from the U.S. Justice Department last year noted many municipalities don’t have the mortality rate or tax base to fully justify funding a forensic pathologist. La Crosse County Administrator Steve O'Malley says their partnership with Dane County has been helpful.
“Like most medium-sized counties, we have an appointed medical examiner system that is primarily people who have experience in emergency medical services and working with law enforcement,” says O’Malley. “Many are on call, short hours and don't have the expertise of a board-certified pathologist.”
This year, La Crosse County's medical examiner retired. O'Malley says the county may expand its partnership with Dane County to include administrative services in its medical examiner's office. For Dane County, this revenue would help offset the cost of hiring another person to do death investigations.
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi says it’s an opportunity to share costs.
“Obviously public resources certainly aren't growing but the need for services at least continues or grows,” says Parisi. “We look for efficiencies and ways to cooperate with our neighbors.”
Parisi says the Medical Examiner's office has seen an increase in the number of death investigations and their complexity.
