Reporting Criteria and Requirements

 

• 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. 

• 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

• 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