Kootenai County Coroner’s Office receives accreditation

The Kootenai County Coroner’s Office received accreditation this month from the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners.

Of the 2,048 medical examiner and coroner offices in the U.S., only 45 have received this accreditation, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Kootenai County will be the 46th office in the country to be receive it. 

“We are excited to qualify for this prestigious recognition, not only because it provides verification of the high standard of excellence our office provides to the community but also because it allows our office to apply for grants to improve our facilities which would otherwise not be available so we can make these improvements without encumbering the citizens of Kootenai County with significant tax burdens,” Kootenai County Coroner Duke Johnson said in a news release.

The accreditation process took about eight months. The coroner’s office was subjected to 288 standards and achieved 100% compliance of mandatory standards and at least 90% of all others, according to the county.

The accrediting body complimented Kootenai County for submitting to this level of peer review.

“The IACME congratulates the Kootenai County Coroner’s Office and coroner Dr. Duke Johnson for their diligence in complying with these standards, leading the way in service and compassion for those they serve and their community,” the association said.

The county will receive the accreditation certificate at the IACME annual training conference during the week of July 21 through July 25 in Las Vegas.