OCME Planning & Research Associate I

Location: Augusta,Maine,United States

OCME Planning & Research Associate I  

Office of Chief Medical Examiner

Opening Date:  June 2, 2025      

Closing Date:  June 16, 2025   

Job Class Code: 0030

Grade:  20

Salary:  $43,014.40 - $60,070.40

Bargaining Unit:  Pro-Tech

Position # 006200027

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is a relatively small agency (12 full-time people) under the administrative umbrella of the Department of the Attorney General and is unique with its varied and complex mission that is concerned with all aspects of death and final dispositions of deceased bodies. The office daily processes the details surrounding the deaths of individuals by collecting histories, scene photos, suicide notes and many personal effects, often under less-than-ideal circumstances.  All employees of the OCME must be able to function under conditions that are often psychologically extreme. The post-mortem states of bodies may often be offensive to one’s physical or emotional senses. 

Information on the Office of the Attorney General

Information on the Office of Chief Medical Examiner

JOB DESCRIPTION:

This position is designated as OCME Administrative Support Staff and will perform clerical work to assist the Chief Medical Examiner, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, and field Medical Examiners in the investigations of deaths under OCME jurisdiction. Work hours are 7:30am – 4:30pm Monday through Friday.

Work is performed under limited supervision and may be emotionally or psychologically stressful at times.

The position is responsible for obtaining all pertinent information including demographics, location, and pertinent circumstances when a death is reported by phone, then assess all information and circumstances to assist with the determination of jurisdiction and all aspects of the administrative investigative process. The daily office duties of this position include, but are not limited to: answering the phone and assisting callers as necessary, responding to emails, requesting and reviewing medical records, reviewing case details for accuracy, and accessing and filing electronic photographs of all Medical Examiner cases.  There are no laboratory or body processing duties associated with this position.

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS:

·         Gather all pertinent information regarding a reported death. Including, but not limited to: name, date of birth, home address, circumstances of death, medical history, and next of kin contact information.

·         Make determinations for a case category: autopsy, examination, paper review, jurisdiction declined or released back to primary care physician.

·         Decide when notification to the Chief or Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Medicolegal Death Investigators, Administrator, field Medical Examiners, Attorney General Investigators, police personnel, and others is necessary for priority cases and immediate actions.

·         Decide whether a body needs to be brought to the OCME for autopsy and arrange timely transportation.

·         Decide what further information is needed from reporting law enforcement agencies, hospitals, or primary care physicians for a case determination.

·         Assist outside certifying physicians with appropriate wording for a cause and manner of death to list on death certificates submitted for cremation release.

·         Select and dispatch appropriate field Medical Examiners to investigate medical examiner cases.

·         Determine what official documents, reports, or medical reco