Supporting Professional, Compliant, and Efficient Medicolegal Operations
WCMEA | Coroner & Medical Examiner Office Administration
Why Office Administration Matters:
Efficient and well-managed offices are vital to the integrity of death investigations. Accurate documentation, standardized procedures, and regulatory compliance ensure that every case is handled with professionalism and accountability. WCMEA provides these resources to support administrative staff and leadership in maintaining organized, transparent, and effective operations at the county level.
Welcome to the Office Administration Resource Center
This page functions as a centralized hub of administrative tools, policies, and best practices for Wisconsin Coroner and Medical Examiner offices. It features a broad library of customizable templates—including investigation forms, scene checklists, chain-of-custody logs, and autopsy request forms—along with guidance on retention schedules, secure storage, and transitioning to electronic systems.
Detailed procedure manuals support every stage of case management, from call intake and evidence handling to data entry and case closure. Policy briefs address HIPAA compliance, privacy and safety requirements, and alignment with Wisconsin’s HFS statutes. Quality-assurance resources include audit checklists, performance dashboards, and improvement frameworks.
The site also provides training outlines, certification information, webinar links, and a peer-network directory to promote professional development. Additional guidance covers budgeting, equipment maintenance, emergency planning, and grant strategies. By streamlining operations and promoting statewide consistency, these resources help offices deliver transparent, compliant, and high-quality service.
Administration
Administration Resources Overview:
The Administration page serves as a centralized hub for essential protocols and guidelines used by our association. It’s designed to give members quick and intuitive access to the key procedural documents that underpin our operational standards, investigative practices, and incident response frameworks. Each PDF is clearly listed and available for download, ensuring that coroners, medical examiners, and death investigators can reference the most up-to-date guidance whenever they need it.
Operational Guidelines
N.A.M.E. Manner of Death Guide
WCMEA Autopsy Protocol
Firefighter Autopsy Protocol
Case Acquisition & Management Guidelines
Template Policy for Fatality Incident Response
Sample Policies
Sample PDF’s:
The Sample Policies page serves as a centralized repository of key protocols and templates for Wisconsin medical examiners, death investigators, and related professionals. It highlights three core PDF resources that establish consistent, legally compliant workflows in critical areas of death investigation.
The Sample Pronouncement Policy (HFS 135.08) outlines statewide statutory and clinical requirements for declaring death in the field. The Procedures for Death Notification document provides step-by-step guidance and communication standards for delivering difficult information to families with clarity and compassion. The ABMI Policy, Forms Procedure Manual compiles the Anatomical Board’s policies, standardized forms, consent requirements, and reporting procedures.
By consolidating these authoritative documents in one location, the page helps streamline operations, support ethical practice, and ensure uniform, legally sound approaches across Wisconsin’s medicolegal system.
Sample Pronouncement Policy – HFS 135.08
Procedures for Death Notification
ABMI Policy, Forms Procedure Manual
Group Purchasing
Overview:
WCMEA members can use a McKesson group purchasing program that centralizes supply ordering and offers discounted essential items such as body bags, PPE, and medical disposables from major manufacturers. Orders can be placed by phone, fax, or online, with same-day shipping before 2:00 P.M. Enrollment requires submitting an account setup form to receive login credentials. Support is provided by Sue Jenkins and Scott Freedlund. WCMEA also identifies secondary PPE vendors, expanding cost-effective procurement options and improving operational consistency for coroner offices.