Office Of The Medical Examiner - Morgue Attendant

County of El Paso•Tx 79905, TX

About The Position

The Morgue Attendant works under the direction of the Morgue Manager or Morgue Supervisor and assists with operations of the Office of the Medical Examiner. The role supports autopsy processing, prepares deceased persons for examination, and performs related duties as assigned. The position works in a high-stress environment and may involve handling traumatic deaths, decomposed bodies, severe injuries, and biohazards. County employees may also be required to train for and provide emergency services during a proclaimed emergency as Disaster Service Workers. The Morgue Attendant receives, identifies, transports, prepares, and releases decedents while maintaining accurate identification and chain of custody. The role assists medical examiners with postmortem procedures, evidence and specimen collection, radiography, and maintenance of morgue facilities, equipment, and records. It also includes clerical work, delivery of specimens, inventory support, and limited cross-training with the Forensic Photographer.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Two years of vocational or technical education or training in medical or related settings, or an equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Must have or obtain by the date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso.
Knowledge of medical and legal terminology; human anatomy and physiology; disease etiology; X-ray procedures; mortuary science and funeral practices, including aseptic and antiseptic procedures; rules of evidence and procedures for protecting evidence and personal property; cameras and photographic procedures; evidence collection and chain of custody; office techniques and procedures; computer keyboard operation; office equipment, software, supplies, and maintenance services; organization and administration principles; English usage, grammar, punctuation, and spelling; and effective interpersonal communication techniques.
Ability to use basic office equipment and a computer to gather and analyze data; handle remains, including opening and closing bodies and assisting a pathologist during autopsies; work effectively under unpleasant conditions; follow written and oral instructions; communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and temperaments, including people experiencing extreme duress and grief; wear personal protective equipment and respirators; comply with policies and regulations concerning blood-borne pathogens, radiation safety, biohazards, chemical exposure prevention, and confidentiality; work under adverse or hazardous conditions involving traumatic deaths, decomposed bodies, severe physical injuries, and biohazards; and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
Must pass a background check.
Demonstrate regular and reliable attendance, teamwork, courteous and respectful communication, strict confidentiality, positive support of the department and County organizations, and commitment to customer service excellence.

Nice To Haves

Education or training in a medical field with proficiency in human anatomy.

Responsibilities

Receive decedents and ensure they are accurately identified and tagged.
Receive, identify, transport, and move decedents and associated personal property between the walk-in cooler and examination area while following chain-of-custody procedures.
Undress, wash, weigh, measure, and photograph decedents in preparation for postmortem examination; remove medical interventions from decedents.
Prepare and take digital radiographs of decedents.
Assist with techniques for obtaining fingerprints in all cases.
Assist with evisceration of abdominal, thoracic, and cranial cavities during postmortem examinations; remove, weigh, and measure organs and collect biological specimens and evidence.
Assist the Chief Medical Examiner and Deputy Medical Examiners with postmortem processes and procedures as directed.
Maintain recovered osteological and skeletal specimens under appropriate conditions and security.
Complete postmortem examinations by suturing, cleaning, and fingerprinting decedents, and maintain chain of custody until release.
Decontaminate, sanitize, and maintain surgical instruments and autopsy equipment.
Ensure morgue and witness forms are signed and documented appropriately.
Restrict access to the morgue area to authorized personnel.
Keep the bulletin board outside the coolers and the digital morgue board current with names and case numbers in the appropriate columns.
Maintain the morgue log book and check it daily.
Track and record morgue refrigerator and freezer temperatures daily and report malfunctions to the Morgue Manager or Supervisor.
Clean the morgue, refrigerators, autopsy areas, control room, receiving area, X-ray area, storage area, locker room, windows, and autopsy suite.
Assist with inventory of morgue supplies and equipment.
Organize and track slides and histology cassettes as required.
Deliver and pick up specimen samples for analysis at designated hospitals or other laboratories.
Verify tags before releasing decedents to funeral homes or other authorized parties after examinations.
Perform morgue clerical duties, including filing, data entry, and some database management.
Provide limited cross-training with the Forensic Photographer and assist in that capacity as needed.
Participate in the Office of the Medical Examiner Mass Disaster Plan.
Attend and participate in meetings, training, and information sessions; stay current on trends and innovations in the field.
Provide excellent customer service and contribute to a cooperative team and individual work culture.
Participate in training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, technical, and safety skills in self and other employees.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
As a County of El Paso employee designated as a Disaster Service Worker, train for emergency response and/or perform emergency services during a proclaimed emergency as directed by a supervisor.