Reportable Hospital Deaths
- When a person dies within 24-hours of admission to the facility. Time starts at triage.
- When any person is killed or dies a non-natural death no matter how long they have been hospitalized.
(suspected overdoses, accidents, homicides, suicides)
- When a body is found and the cause and circumstances of the death are unknown
- Any suicide, regardless of length of time hospitalized.
- When patient dies without being attended by a physician & the cause is unknown.
- Stillbirths and neonatal births if the delivery took place outside the hospital or if the delivery is
related to or suspected to be related to trauma or drug use.
- Any recent or remote trauma that has effected quality of life.
Preparing to report the death
- Have the patient chart in front of you. Face sheet and patient demographics first.
- Know the decedents terminal diagnosis, medical history & date/time and reason for admission.
- Have Next of kin or emergency contact information available
- Be ready with details such as where the patient came from & how the incident occurred.
- Was the patient admitted under a pseudo name.
- Be aware if blood was drawn upon admission and secure the location of the blood.
- If a Next-of-Kin is known make sure they are notified prior to ME notification.
- The Collin County Medical Examiner's office does not store, embalm, or cremate bodies. We are a science
facility that performs forensic examinations. There is no county or city morgue.
- If a patient’s family requests an autopsy but they do not meet criteria to report to the Medical Examiner's
office, please refer them to hospital pathology or to thename.org
- It is a Class B Misdemeanor (up to 180 days in jail & up to $2,000.00 fine) to interfere with an
inquest authorized by Texas Law.
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Reportable Nursing Home or Hospice Deaths
- Hospice deaths that occur in a residence, assisted living facility, nursing home or group home MUST BE
REPORTED.
- All deaths that occur in a nursing home within the Collin County border MUST BE REPORTED. Preparing to
report the death
Please have the following information ready at time of reporting:
- Verify the address you are at is in Collin County. If you have any questions please visit our interactive Collin County map.
- Has there been any recent trauma?
- Patients Name/ DOB/ race & gender
- Residential address or Facility name and address
- Time of pronouncement
- Hospice Diagnosis or medical history
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form