Medical Examiner/U-M Deal Could Save Big Money In Wayne County

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Wayne County is joining forces with the University of Michigan Health Systems in a partnership that is designed to bring improvements to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's office.

The partnership is expected to save taxpayers $1.5 million during the next three years. Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano said there will be other benefits, as well.

"The University of Michigan is accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners and ... University of Michigan has a forensic pathology department which is the only one here in the state of Michigan," Ficano said, adding that the partnership creates new educational opportunities.

Joining Ficano in Thursday's announcement was Wayne County Medical Examiner Dr. Carl Schmidt, who said deal will help to bring much-anticipated relief to family members waiting to learn why their loved ones died.

"We hope that with this agreement the turnaround time is going to be significantly decreased from around six months currently to maybe a month or so,"   said Schmidt.

Schmidt and other Board of Pathology-certified pathologists would become employees of the school. The medical examiner's office would remain under county governance.

Schmidt said his office is 1 of the busiest in the country with about 2,500 autopsies each year. He said funding has dropped from $8.1 million in 2007 to $6.2 million to $5.7 million for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

The partnership begins October 1.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.