May 4, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       

Contact:  Dr. Rebecca Hamilton, District 21 Chief Medical Examiner
                  (239) 277-5020
                       
MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE ONE OF ONLY 49 IN U.S. TO BE ACCREDITED
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 4, 2006) – The District 21 Medical Examiner's Office in Fort Myers has been re-accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) – one of only four offices in Florida and 49 nationwide to receive accreditation.
 
The accreditation process consists of a rigorous inspection of the physical facility and review of the office practices, including the implementation of policies and procedures. 

The overall objective of the accreditation is to ensure that the application of the standards set forth by NAME will aid in developing and maintaining a high caliber medicolegal death investigation system for the communities in the jurisdiction in which they operate. 

The District 21 Medical Examiner's Office encompasses Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties. 

"We are proud of our original accreditation in 2000 and the re-accreditation just granted," said Rebecca A. Hamilton, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner.  "Our goal is to exhibit the highest level of professionalism in providing medical examiner services to our three counties, and the NAME accreditation is one of the ways we do that." 

Medical Examiners in Florida are charged with the duty of determining causes of death under specified circumstances, and working with law enforcement agencies and state attorneys in this determination.  They also are empowered to perform autopsies at their own discretion. 

The District 21 Medical Examiner's Office has 10 employees, including three physicians and four forensic investigators.  It has an annual budget of $2.1 million.

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