Forensic Medical

The Tennessean
Monday, February 16, 1998
By Mark Ippolito
Staff Writer

Report: City's pathology department back on track
Privatization results in quicker autopsies

A company hired to take over Metro's problem-plagued Medical Examiner's Office already has saved the city $186,000 and is completing most autopsies in about two weeks, according to a six-month status report.

"We're very pleased," Deputy Health Director Bob Eadie said. "We've had no problems that haven't been worked through." The Metro Council awarded a $2.2 million contract in April to Brentwood medical group Associated Pathologists to take over the troubled Metro Medical Examiner's Office. The contract was contested by some on the council because it more than doubled the budget for the office.

The Medical Examiner's Office performs autopsies in suspicious and unexpected deaths and provides testimony in court.

The report by Associated Pathologists, which took over the office July 1, lists these accomplishments:

The group has operated under budget for the first six months, saving Metro $186,000. If the savings continues to the end of the budget year, the money will be returned to the city's general fund.
Autopsies are completed on average in two weeks. "Previously it could be anywhere from 16 weeks or more," Eadie said.
All known cases left incomplete by previous medical examiners have been closed.
The three forensic pathologists on staff also are teaching at Vanderbilt University and providing training to medical residents.
"The fact that we're releasing bodies in less than 24 hours and reports in under two weeks, just from that standpoint, it speaks for itself," said Dr. Bruce Levy, the lead medical examiner.

Eadie said another stride is the absence of complaints from the public, a big change from the past. "We've had no complaints about their services, whatsoever," Eadie said, adding that he used to get "several complaints a day."

Mayor Phil Bredesen pushed for the Associated Pathologists contract because, he has said, the city-run medical examiner's office had such a bad reputation that forensic pathologists will not work directly for Metro Government.

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Forensic Medical
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