Physicians
In Vermont, physicians bear the primary responsibility for completing a certificate of death in those cases where that physician was “last in attendance upon a deceased person during his last illness”. The law allows, and it is common practice, that a physician may delegate the responsibility for gathering all information except the medical certification of cause of death to a funeral director. (18 VSA § 5202) However, the medical certification must be:
- signed by an attending physician, and
- delivered to a funeral director within 24 hours of the event of the death (or to other authorized person if no funeral director is involved).
Currently physicians most commonly certify deaths using the Preliminary Report of Death form. However, beginning in January 2010, the VDH will be launching an EDRS that will be available to physicians. The EDRS will eventually become the primary means for reporting deaths.
The EDRS has been designed to be simple and easy to use. Reporting can be done anywhere you have access to the internet (office, home, etc) via Internet Explorer. As an EDRS user, you will find support in the form of system edits designed to guide you in providing complete cause of death statements. These edits have been shown to reduce the number of errors and follow-up queries and improve the consistency and quality of information about deaths. Finally, the Vital Records Office will have staff available to answer any questions regarding use of the system.
The compassion and respect you show your patients is demonstrated in your last act of care – timely and accurate reporting of the manner and cause of his or her death. The information provided on a death certificate also serves to inform state, national and even global public health efforts and research. We recognize, however, that sometimes death reporting is a challenge, and hope that the EDRS will be a resource in addressing some common concerns. We encourage you to review Certifying A Vermont Death. This on-line tutorial was prepared by the Office of the Chief Medical examiner and addresses many common issues.
If you would like information about being a pilot test site for the EDRS, or to discuss any of the changes in death reporting, please contact us at EDRS@vdh.state.vt.us or 802-652-2070.
VT Death Reporting Resources and Updates for Physicians
- Changes to PROD - Medical Certification Oct. 1, 2009 (pdf)
- Tips for Completing Preliminary Report of Death - Physicians (pdf)
- Changes in Death Reporting June 2008 - Physicians (pdf)
- New & Changed Medical Questions for July 1, 2008 (pdf)
- Physician Tutorial – Completing a VT Death Certificate
- Article in Green Mountain Physician: Physician’s Role Is Critical for Improving Data From Death Certificates (pdf)
- Link to Vermont EDRS (to be added)
- Physicians’ Handbook for EDRS (coming soon)
Related Links for Physicians
- Death Certificates: Let’s Get It Right, American Family Physician
- Electronic Death Registration: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
- EDRS Project, NAPHSIS
- Vermont Medical Society
- VNA Health Systems of Vermont
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