State Agencies

Thomas Wilson Center was formerly called Mt.
Wilson Center. Established in 1925, and for many
years the State's institution for the treatment of
patients with tuberculosis, the Center's hospital
unit serves predominantly patients with chronic
respiratory diseases. The nursing home unit was
established for geriatric patients previously cared
for in State hospital units.

WESTERN MARYLAND CENTER
Wilfred T. Tumbusch, M.D., Director
Hagerstown 21740 Telephone: 739-6300

Western Maryland Center, originally Western
Maryland State Hospital, authorized by Chapter
53, Acts of 1952, was opened in 1957 and cur-
rently has 139 licensed hospital beds and 36 li-
censed skilled nursing home beds for rehabilita-
tion services and the care of the chronically ill.
An outpatient unit is maintained to provide he-
modialysis for patients with chronic kidney dis-
ease.

DEPARTMENT OF POST-MORTEM
EXAMINERS

MARYLAND POST-MORTEM
EXAMINERS COMMISSION

Chairperson: Benjamin Trump, M.D., University
of Maryland School of Medicine

Robert II. Hcptinstall, M.D., Department of Pa-
thology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine;
John DeHoff, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of
Health of Baltimore City; Col. Thomas S.
Smith, Superintendent, Maryland State Police.

Russell S. Fisher, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner

Thomas D. Smith, M.D., Deputy Chief Medical
Examiner

111 Penn Street
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 396-3823

The Department of Post-Mortem Examiners,
created by Chapter 69, Acts of 1939, to replace a
decentralized system of local coroners, is directed
by a commission composed of the Professor of
Pathology of the University of Maryland, the
Professor of Pathology at The Johns Hopkins
University, a representative of the State Depart-
ment of Health and Mental Hygiene selected

Health and Mental Hygiene/181

by the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene,
the Commissioner of Health of Baltimore City,
and the Superintendent of the Maryland State Po-
lice. The Department replaced the coroners of
Baltimore City by a chief and two assistant medi-
cal examiners, and the county coroners by deputy
medical examiners. A lexicologist was also pro-
vided for the Department. Since then the General
Assembly has authorized three additional assis-
tant medical examiners, two assistant toxicolo-
gists, and a serologist. In 1969 one of the assis-
tant medical examiners was designated deputy
chief medical examiner. The Commission appoints
all professional personnel. Other personnel are
employed through the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene.

The medical examiners investigate violent and
suspicious deaths or deaths unattended by physi-
cians throughout the State. They must file reports
of all deaths investigated with the Office of the
Chief Medical Examiner. The records of the De-
partment are open for inspection to the family of
the deceased and are acceptable in court as evi-
dence of the facts contained.

The deputy medical examiner fee for each
death investigated and all salaries and operating
expenses of the Department are handled through
the State Department of Health and Mental Hy-
giene in the budget section defined for the Office
of the Chief Medical Examiner. This includes the
expenses of performing autopsies in the counties,
where such are authorized by the chief medical
examiner, and for the transportation of bodies in-
cident to all autopsies.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
HEALTH REGULATION
AND POLICY ANALYSIS

John L. Green, Assistant Secretary

201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-7983

The Assistant Secretary for Health Regulation
and Policy Analysis is responsible for coordinat-
ing the activities of the Health Services Cost Re-
view Commission and the Maryland Health Plan-
ning and Development Agency and for assuring
that both organizations receive adequate adminis-
trative support. The Assistant Secretariat brings
together the principal health regulatory functions
of the Department and the Assistant Secretary
provides leadership and guidance for the regulato-
ry and licensing programs of the Department.
With the assistance of a program evaluation staff,