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.
