TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office has reduced a massive caseload backlog, an important step toward regaining the accreditation that it lost in 2009.
The Tulsa World reports that as recently as two years ago, more than 1,300 cases remained uncompleted. Amy Elliott, chief administrative officer for the agency, says a combination of better funding, beefed-up staff and better equipment has allowed the state Medical Examiner's Office to relieve that caseload bottleneck.
Elliott says that the current 645 cases that are pending will be processed by March, enabling the agency to reach a national benchmark. Accreditation standards from the National Association of Medical Examiners recommend that post-mortem examination reports be completed within 90 days of autopsy.
Officials say regaining accreditation is the next big hurdle for the Medical Examiner's Office.