1. General Duties of the FD
At Need Funeral Procedures

2. Notification of Death Use of the telephone: i) answering:
Know your funeral homes policies!!
ii) voice:
Avoid sounding impatient or bored. Don’t interrupt!

3. Information Needed During Notification
Name of Caller and Rel’p to Decedent
Phone Number
Name of Deceased
Place of Death
Next of Kin and Phone Number
Attending Physician/M.E./Coroner
Time of Death
Authority to Remove
Directions
Permission to Embalm

4. Add’l Items For Arrangement Conference
Photo and Clothing
Social Security Number and Vet. D/C
Biographical/Statistical Information
Cemetery Information
Time and Place for Arrangement is established

5. Add’l Info. for Institutional Removal
Name, address and telephone number of spouse or next of kin.
Name, address and telephone number of the person authorizing release to the FH
Time of release.
Availability of refrigeration.
Entrance to utilize.

6. Closing Approximate time of arrival.
Assurance of continued assistance.
Permit the caller to close.
Avoid saying “thank you”.
Record information accurately.
Leave a copy of information at FH while the transfer is being completed.

7. Types of Notification Immediate Family Institutional
Relative/Close Friend
Walk-in
Trauma
It is important that you remain calm, compassionate and professional.

8. Trauma Call 1) express condolences 2) gather necessary information
3) establish warm and caring relationship with the family
4) schedule arrangement conference
5) obtain permission to embalm
6) provide family with a phone number
7) obtain phone number and address from the family
8) be prepared to offer assistance
9) provide the family with the FH address
Follow-up:

9. NJ Administrative Code
13: Authorization to embalm cadaver
“No licensed practitioner of mortuary science shall take possession of or embalm a cadaver without first being directed and fully authorized to do by those charged with the duties of interment.”

10. PA Code 13.202 Unprofessional conduct
10) “Furnishing embalming, other services or merchandise without having obtained written permission from a family member or other person authorized by law to make funeral arrangements for the deceased. Oral permission to embalm, followed by a confirmatory fax, telex, telegram, mailgram or other written confirmation will be acceptable.”

11. Transfer of Remains Factors to consider before leaving the FH:
1) selection of appropriate vehicle
2) number of staff members required
3) transfer equipment and accessories
4) personal appearance of transfer personnel
5) transfer procedures

12. Transfer From a Residence
Arrival at place of death:
Transfer procedures:
Transfer From an Institution
Legal Requirements

13. NJ Administrative Code
13:
“No person shall remove human remains from any residence or institution without first securing authorization consenting to the removal from the next of kin or a person legally entitled to grant said authorization.”

14. PA Code 13.213 Means of transportation.
“Transportation of the deceased by a funeral director or the director’s agent shall be only in or on a stretcher or container specifically designed for containment of human remains. A body shall be trnsported in a horizontal, face-up position and covered so that it is shielded from public view.”