AGENCY TESTIMONY
Reducing time to certify opioid deaths: Investments in staff and technology
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ยท
101 sec
Van Pelt details the second major area of investment: reducing the time to certify opioid deaths through additional staffing and technological improvements in the forensic toxicology lab.
- $3,150,000 invested in hiring additional staff and purchasing new equipment
- The forensic toxicology lab conducts tests for over 50 illicit and prescribed opioids and hundreds of other substances
- Turnaround time for toxicology has decreased by 48%, from 77 days to 40 days
- Overall final autopsy report turnaround time has improved by 29%, from 118 days to 84 days
Robert Van Pelt
0:31:59
Now to our second area of investment, an approximate $3,150,000 bringing the total funding up to $4,000,000 used to reduce the time to certify opioid deaths.
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Our forensic toxicology lab is a national leader in detecting the ever expanding universe of substances associated with the national opioid epidemic.
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Through the diligent work of our scientists, the lab conducts tests for over 50 illicit and prescribed opioids, their metabolites, and potentially hundreds of other drugs and chemical toxins.
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This investment has enabled us to hire additional forensic toxicology lab and pathology staff to process toxicology tests and certified opioid related results.
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It has also supported the purchase of new equipment, supplies, technology and upgrades, as well as contract based assistance.
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This initiative is already showing success.
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We are quite proud of it.
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The turnaround time for toxicology has improved from a median time of 77 days reported in the 20 24 MMR to just 40 days now.
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That's a 48% decrease.
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Similarly, the overall final autopsy report turnaround time has improved from 118 days in fiscal 2024 to just 84 days presently, a 29% decrease.
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Having only received these funds a few months ago, these improvements indicate that we are moving in the right direction.