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Health Program Assistant - Medical Examiner's Office

King County Medical Examiner's Office is looking for a Health Program Assistant I (HPA I) to join their team. The responsibilities of the HPA position in the Medical Examiner's Office include performing clerical duties that are specialized and/or technical in nature. The work involves independent judgment of complex and/or sensitive information. Duties include answering and triaging multiple phone lines in a sensitive environment, filing, using complex case management software, researching specialized or technical information, and providing program-specific information to internal and external customers. The main duty of this position will be to process disposition authorizations, which allow funeral homes to bury or cremate decedents. This position performs duties under the direction of the Medical Examiner's Office Administrator III.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice:

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx


Requirements

  • Provide customer service electronically or in person to funeral directors, grieving families, and others. 
  • Answer multiple phone lines and route to the right sections of the office. 
  • Monitor shared email accounts to identify and fulfill incoming requests including disposition authorization, report requests, subpoenas, contracts, and other requests. 
  • Review information from funeral directors and medical certifiers, performing data entry on requests generating an official record for review.
  • Present information about disposition review cases to forensic pathologists and forensic medicolegal death investigators for approval and appropriate follow-up investigations.
  • Provide official approval to funeral homes prior to death certificate filing.
  • Scan, copy, file, and mail records containing protected health information. 
  • Utilize specific software to enter test results, close cases, and process internal paperwork. 
  • Enter and correct information in the KCMEO’s database and the Washington Health and Life Event System (WHALES).
  • Create folder, close cases, create affidavits for correction and other administrative duties.
  • Review daily requests to ensure appropriate billing, and scan all daily disposition requests for proper retention.
  • Maintain and dispose of records consistent with the King County retention policy.
  • Review billing statements with funeral homes and assure accounts remain current as services are provided.
  • Interpret state statutes and King County policies regarding releasing public and confidential Medical Examiner records.
  • Assist administration team by answering telephones, managing records releases and public records requests.
  • Provide administrative and logistical support for meetings, weekly conferences, and program staff.
  • Release property to funeral agencies.
  • Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

Required:
  • Experience providing customer service 
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing 
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of staff, community partners, and the general public
  • Handle difficult interpersonal interactions with discretion and diplomacy
  • Work both independently and as a member of a team 
  • Ability to update, and maintain program databases and logs; accurately enter and track data; and generate reports 
  • Ability to learn new computer programs 
  • Ability to prepare for meetings to set up technology weekly trainings, including remote participation via Skype, PowerPoint presentations, and a variety of audio visual equipment 
  • Ability to maintain and update various lists, records, and files using Access, Excel, and other databases assuring data is retrievable and properly archived. 
  • Demonstrated ability in prioritizing workload and adapting to changes in demand 
  • Ensure sensitive and confidential information is kept private and secure; adhere to department policies and procedures 
  • Ability to lift up to 25 pounds with or without accommodation 
  • Ability to work for brief periods of time in close proximity to the deceased
Desired:
  • Ability to speak one of the languages most commonly spoken by limited English speakers in King County
  • Knowledge of funeral industry processes
  • Knowledge of medical terminology

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:
  • NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
  • Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

Please note: Cover letters, resumes, and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

  • The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
  • The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. 
  • For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
  • Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
  • Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
  • Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
  • Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
  • When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department. 
  • If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Work Schedule

This position is in-person Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30 p,m. This position is non-exempt and eligible for overtime. 

Work Location

This position is located at Harborview Medical Center, 908 Jefferson St. Seattle, WA 98104. 

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 

Union Membership

This position is represented by WSCCCE - L1652. 

Contact

For questions about this recruitment, contact Sarah Dunkinson (sdunkinson@kingcounty.gov) 


Date Posted
03/23/2026
Job Reference
2026SD26666
Organization
DPH - Public Health, Prevention
Location
King County, WA
Category
Health Evaluator/Consultant
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