Investigative Assistant

The Investigative Assistant provides a full range of administrative and investigative assistance to the Office of the Medical Examiner.

BENEFITS

• Wellness reimbursement.

• Continuing education and tuition reimbursement.

• Employer-funded retirement plan.

• Two medical plan options: PPO and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with employer HSA contribution.

• Flexible work solutions based on position and department.

• Up to four weeks of PTO accrual beginning in year one.

• Paid holidays.

• Paid volunteer time.

• Paid preferred holiday.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Complete in-house investigations and administrative responsibilities for deaths that occur in the counties we serve.
• Provide investigative and communication-related support as needed by the department faculty.
• Ensure that death certificates are completed appropriately by the medical examiner and sent to funeral directors within 24-48 hours.
• Ability to work at least 1 weekend a month to support the medical examiner's office operations on the weekend.
• Ability to provide back-up investigative coverage of all counties to ensure 24/7, 365 investigative coverage.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet assigned deadlines.
• Availability to work occasional overtime on weekends or evenings to complete time sensitive projects.
• Acquire knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
• All other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Associates degree in business is preferred.
• Minimum of three years administrative assistant experience is preferred.
• Minimum of one year of investigative experience.
• Knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Office, file management, and other software as required by the department.
• Knowledge and proficiency in grammar and spelling skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate with others verbally and in writing.
• Prior experience as a medical examiner investigator is preferred.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS:

• Achieve American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Registry Certification (basic) as soon as possible, based upon time and experience requirements established by the ABMDI.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Comfortable communicating with family members, medical providers, law enforcement, and other professional agencies regarding recently deceased individuals.
• Knowledge and proficiency of medical terminology and web-based applications and other software as required by the department.
• Ability to operate automated standard office equipment such as multi-line phone system, copier, fax machine, shredder, etc.
• Ability to interpret, comprehend, and transmit complicated and detailed instructions accurately.
• Ability to accept and apply feedback.
• Regular and predictable attendance is expected.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize priorities in organization of work flow.
• Able to perform duties independently, with a minimal need for direct supervision.

About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed)

We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-centered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a welcoming, supportive, and engaging culture. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.

The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Beacon and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. WMed is the recipient of a $100 million foundational gift and the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide, as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs, with an estimated annual economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.

WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program as well as a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Sciences. We train physicians in 10 residencies and four fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas. Faculty in the Department of Pathology serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana.

The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, faculty and administrative offices, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs.

WMed builds upon Kalamazoo's century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school's advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with applicable State and Federal law.