12/8/2008
As you may or may not be aware, AIT has changed carriers for shipping. Beginning December 1, UPS is now the shipper for AIT. By now everyone should have received a supply of shipping labels and packaging supplies, along with a letter explaining the shipping instructions. IF NOT please give customer service at AIT a call. Your new shipping labels should be pre-printed with the coroner's office address on the return portion of the label. The lable should be pre-addressed to AIT. If not please call Mike Wilder to let him know.
Please note the following changes in procedures:
1. Since the pre-printed labels are addressed to AIT,
you will no longer need to send them to the
Central Lab in Frankfort. They can go directly to AIT.
2. Mike Wilder will need a copy of the Toxicology
analysis form. This form is enclosed in the
specimen box that contains the information
pertaining to the case and the tests requested.
Since the form is only in duplicate, you will need to
make a copy of this form and fax to Mike Wilder's
office. The next forms will be in triplicate. AIT
WILL NOT DO ANY TESTING UNTIL THE FORM HAS
BEEN RECEIVED IN MIKE'S OFFICE. This will serve
as our tracking mechanism for specimens. YOU
NO LONGER NEED TO SUBMIT THE TOXICOLOGY
REFERRAL FORM TO MIKE'S OFFICE.
3. The only tests performed on coroner cases will be
the Drugs of Abuse panel, 900 in the list.If you
have concerns about additional testing please
call Mike Wilder's office for clarification. Please
check only this test when filling out the request
form. PLEASE DISCONTINUE TO USE THE
KENTUCKY TESTING KITS, USE ONLY THE AIT KITS
FOR SPECIMENS. YOU MAY DISCARD THEM AND
KEEP THE NEEDLES AND SYRINGES.
4. Each Coroner's Office will be receiving new analysis
forms that are pre-printed with each county on the
form. This will help in billing as well as tracking.
AIT has asked that you include as much info as
possible on the form as needed and also that the
form is signed at the bottom by either the coroner
or deputy coroner.
5. Each coroner needs to share this information with
your deputies and make sure the address listed
in the most recent directory is correct. This is the
address that AIT uses to ship supplies and mail
results. If it is not correct please notify AIT and
the Frankfort ME office immediately.
Please feel free to call Mike Wilder, Dr. Corey, or Eric
White (AIT rep) with any questions or concerns.
10/25/2008
Added a new training workshop to the "Training Page" under Non-DOCJT courses. "Serial Murder" will be presented on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. See the "Training Page" for more details.
10/15/2008
We are starting to receive information on training opportunities for next year. A new class for 2009 has been added to the Non-DOCJT course list on the Coroner Training page. New classes will be added as we receive that information.
10/01/2008
We have added a new page to the left-hand column titled "2008 Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Disaster Drill". This page gives a brief description of the exercise and the Incident Response Team, and includes several photos of the event.
09/30/2008
Executive Secretary Brian Ritchie spoke on September 16, 2008 at a proclamation for Child Safety at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. Brian testified this past spring in support of the recent "Booster Seat" law that was enacted into law. With Gov. Beshear, Dr. Susan Pollock, and Chuck Geveden with KY Highway Safety in attendance, Brian shared his experience with the accident involving his daughter Lauren and how the booster seat saved her life.
09/03/2008
To those members of the State Coroners/Medical Examiners Mass Fatality Team, remember the upcoming mock disaster exercise scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4th and Friday, Sept. 5. This will begin with a TEAM meeting at 5 PM on Thursday.
09/03/2008
The 2008 Kentucky Coroners Master Directory on the front page has been redesigned. Instead of looking like the paper handout it is now in the form of an EXCEL file, which will be much easier for you to read, and for us to update from this point forward. It has been updated to this point with the April 2008 paper directory (I am sure there are errors by now, so please be patient as we get them fixed!)
08/15/2008
A series of regional meetings have been scheduled to bring our Coroners up-to-date on the new toxicology lab. These meeting begin Monday, August 18th! For dates, times, and locations please see the lower right-hand information box on the front page of the website!
07/31/2008
Today we added two new training courses to the "Coroner Training" page. Both are listed under the Non-DOCJT Training Courses section. The first is October 6-9 and is titled "Unidentified Remains Seminar", the second is "Investigation and Scene Management of Violent Death" to be held on October 22, 2008. For more information see the "Coroner Training" page.
07/28/2008
The 2005 Kentucky Annual Child Fatality Review Report has been published. Most if not all Kentucky Coroners have received a copy of the report, if not an on-line copy can be viewed at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services website. The page address is http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/ach/mch/childfatality.htm
07/08/2008
Some of the coroners have been asking how many people have been using the website. According to the people at ky.gov, a technical issue prevents a web counter from being installed so that everyone can see those statistics. However, those figures are available to the webmaster from ky.gov.
A total of 1,227 visits were made to the website during the month of June. This averages over 40 visitors per day. Since the site was introduced at the Coroners Conference late in April until June 30, a total of 1,964 visits have been made.
We will publish these figures occasionally on the ANNOUNCEMENT page. Meanwhile, thanks to all you coroners and deputy coroners for making this effort of your Association a success!
07/07/2008
We are sad to report the death of Clark County Coroner David W. Jacobs. He was found dead on July 4, 2008. Further information can be found on the Association Home page.
06/23/2008
ATTENTION all State Coroner/ME Response Team members! A meeting is scheduled on Monday, July 14, 2008 from 10 AM-4 PM for the Incident Victim Identification Section (IVIS). The meeting will take place at the Frankfort ME Office, and is open to all members of the Response Team.
06/22/2008
Added information on the "Coroner Training" page about the 2008 Illinois Coroners and Medical Examiners Association Seminar August 4-7, 2008. See the TRAINING page for more information.
06/19/2008
Added a new page to the Left-Hand column titled "2008 Coroners Conference". There is some information and several photos from the conference.
06/13/2008
Added a new form to the "FORMS" page. KSP Coroner Form 76 satisfies our motor vehicle death reporting requirements as specified in KRS 189.590.
06/02/2008
Added information on the "Coroner Training" page regarding the 2008 Indiana Annual Coroners Conference to be June 21-24, 2008. See the Training page for more information.
06/01/2008
Added information on a new seminar to the "Coroner Training" page. The Jefferson County Coroners Office will present Detective Tom Lang (LAPD retired) discussing "HIGH PROFILE HOMICIDES" on September 10, 2008 from 9-4 PM. See the Training page for more information.
5/22/2008
We are sad to report the death of Carroll County Coroner James B. "Jimmy" Dunn. Jim has been a well-known and popular coroner for many years, serving as a deputy coroner from 1978-1980, and as the elected coroner from 1980 until his death. You will find more information on Jim's life, including visitation and funeral information, on the Association Home Page.
5/6/2008
A new section has been added to the left-hand column titled "Career Development".This page provides information pertaining to the recognition of members achieving BASIC, ADVANCED, and MASTER CORONER certifications.
5/02/2008
Added information about the 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program on the front page. Look to the right-hand column in the blue box.
4/28/2008
Added information on the "Coroner Training" page on the 2008 Annual Conference of the Kentucky Peace Officers Association to be held August 10-13 in Louisville, Ky. Look in the Non-DOCJT Training section for more information.
4/24/2008
Added information on the "Coroner Training" page on the 2008 Annual Meeting of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) to be held September 5-10 in Louisville, Ky. Look in the Non-DOCJT Training section.
4/21/2008
Added information on the "Coroner Training" page on the 2008 International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners to be held June 8-13 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Look in the Non-DOCJT Training section for more information.
4/21/2008
Added information on the "Coroner Training" page about the 2008 Symposium of the International Homicide Investigators Association to be held August 24-29 in St. Louis, Missouri. Look in the Non-DOCJT Training section for more information.
04/16/2008
Have just learned that the Child Booster Seat Law, HB 324, was signed into law by the Governor on 4/11/2008.
04/15/2008
Added a training course scheduled in May to the "Coroner Training" page titled "Public Information Training for Mass Fatalities Incidents". This 8 hour course in Oak Ridge, Tenn. gives a basic knowledge of WHAT to say and WHAT NOT to say in Mass Fatality Incidents. It is open to ME's and Coroners, Emergency Management officials, Homeland Security and public safety personnel, etc. Find it on the Coroner Training page under the heading "Non-DOCJT courses".
04/10/2008
From Brian Ritchie:
Remember our upcoming 2008 Kentucky Coroner's Conference April 22-25. Dr. Marcella Fierro, retired Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Virginia will be one of the attendees. If you plan to attend the Coroner's Conference and receive credit for your Kentucky mandatory training requirement, you must sign up with Department of Criminal Justice Training(DOCJT).
04/10/2008
From Brian Ritchie:
Kentucky coroners got some good news out of the legislature a few days ago. Scott County Coroner John Goble announces that HB 324 has passed and been delivered to the Governor. This bill allows coroners to appoint additional deputy coroners with the approval of the local legislative body of the county. Thank You John for your work on the legislative issues.
04/10/2008
From Brian Ritchie:
Kentucky will soon join 40 other states in having a child booster seat law. Members of the State Child Fatality Review Team have worked diligently on this bill. As many of you are aware, my daughter Lauren was in an auto accident in 2005 and her booster seat saved her life. I received the chance to testify before the Senate committee and my daughter and I were provided the opportunity to make radio and television commercial spots in support of the bill. Thanks to Dr. Susan Pollack and the State Review Team for their work in helping the children of Kentucky.
04/03/2008
We are now live on the Internet!!
02/01/2008
Mike Wilder, Executive Secretary for the Coroner's Association for many years, has been named the Executive Director for the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office replacing outgoing Director Dan Able. Congratulations to Mike, and Good Luck to Dan!