NC Vital Records rolling out online death registration system
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NC Vital Records has launched a new online system in eight pilot counties for clinicians to use when certifying deaths.
For the record, it is NCMB’s position that licensees should complete death certificates if requested. It is typical practice for hospital staff or funeral professionals to ask that the deceased’s physician (or other provider) of record – who presumably knows the decedent’s health history better than any other clinician – to certify the death. Such requests are generally made only in cases where the death does not meet criteria for referral to the medical examiner’s office.
Buncombe, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Johnston, Mecklenburg, Orange and Wake counties are all accepting certificates completed through the new Web-based NC Database Application for Vital Events (NC DAVE).
Physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners (clinicians who may certify deaths under NC law) in the eight pilot counties may sign up for a FREE three-hour training course on how to use NC DAVE. Trainings for certifiers in the eight pilot counties began in October and wrapped up on Nov. 20. Additional training dates will be added as NC Vital Records gradually expands use of the system across the state. NC DAVE is expected to be fully implemented in all 100 counties by mid-2021.
To see upcoming NC Dave training opportunities and sign up:
1. Visit https://vitalrecords.nc.gov/ and click on the EDRS/NC DAVE link in the red left-hand column.
2. Choose the Medical Certifiers link at the bottom of the page. A login box will appear. Enter Username: NCDAVE and Password: NCPILOT to access the Register of Deeds section of the website.
Please direct questions to NC Vital Records Field Services at (919) 792-5991.
Read more about NCMB’s perspective on the clinician’s obligation to sign death certificates here.
For the record, it is NCMB’s position that licensees should complete death certificates if requested. It is typical practice for hospital staff or funeral professionals to ask that the deceased’s physician (or other provider) of record – who presumably knows the decedent’s health history better than any other clinician – to certify the death. Such requests are generally made only in cases where the death does not meet criteria for referral to the medical examiner’s office.
Buncombe, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Johnston, Mecklenburg, Orange and Wake counties are all accepting certificates completed through the new Web-based NC Database Application for Vital Events (NC DAVE).
Physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners (clinicians who may certify deaths under NC law) in the eight pilot counties may sign up for a FREE three-hour training course on how to use NC DAVE. Trainings for certifiers in the eight pilot counties began in October and wrapped up on Nov. 20. Additional training dates will be added as NC Vital Records gradually expands use of the system across the state. NC DAVE is expected to be fully implemented in all 100 counties by mid-2021.
To see upcoming NC Dave training opportunities and sign up:
1. Visit https://vitalrecords.nc.gov/ and click on the EDRS/NC DAVE link in the red left-hand column.
2. Choose the Medical Certifiers link at the bottom of the page. A login box will appear. Enter Username: NCDAVE and Password: NCPILOT to access the Register of Deeds section of the website.
Please direct questions to NC Vital Records Field Services at (919) 792-5991.
Read more about NCMB’s perspective on the clinician’s obligation to sign death certificates here.
Comments on this article:
Maybe I’m missing something here. It would be much easier to complete death certificates on line. It seems like continuing to do this on paper is an antiquated method in this computerized world. But, why do we need a 3 hour course to complete a form that takes less than 5 minutes to do on paper?
By Lisa Nadler, MD on Dec 05, 2020 at 6:15am
Dr. Nadler - Thank you for taking the time to comment. It sounds like you are comfortable certifying deaths, which is great! I know NCMB often hears from clinicians who are not familiar with or comfortable with the process. I’m not sure what the curriculum of the three hour course covers, but I imagine it discusses the certification process as well as the new online system. Please note that it is optional as well.
By Jean Fisher Brinkley on Dec 07, 2020 at 2:55pm
