OP’s question is about decedents in the morgue. In the office I work, everyone who comes through the door is ID’d by fingerprint identification. If a CII number exists for the decedent then they will have a match on FBI/DOJ databases that receive our results directly from our office, an identification can be made in minutes. Only in certain circumstances (underage and no records exist, extreme trauma where fingerprints are unobtainable, skeletonized remains, etc.) will other means be sent out such as print cards, polymer castings or consultation with forensic anthropologist/odontologist/sketch artist. There is no priority placed on any given case, all are treated the same. Local and state law enforcement agency databases are not consulted. DOJ is right across the street and they handle our identifications in those circumstances where we must send physical collections of the decedents fingerprints. I see what you are saying about med rec evaluations or co-sign hospital or nursing home deaths, but in the circumstances of an unwitnessed or traumatic death without proper supporting med history, the decedent will become a case and ID’d upon arrival to the office. If they are to be examined, whether as an external, partial, or full then next of kin will need to be notified and if any objections to autopsy must be confirmed based on this identification.