Responsibilities
As a medical certifier, a physician, physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner, you can initiate a death certificate process. You are primarily responsible for documenting the decedent’s cause(s) of death. The electronic death record should be certified by a medical certifier within 24 hours from the time of death. In some cases, the certification of the electronic death record will need to be completed sooner in order to meet religious obligations.
Learn how to enroll
Downloads
Training
Quick guides
- DPH Guidance on Completing a Death Certificate
- Quick Guide for Online Certifiers PDF (Doc)
- Quick Guide to Fax Attestation for Offline Certifiers PDF (Doc)
- Quick Guide to Fax Attestation for medical staff working with Offline Certifiers PDF (Doc)
- Reporting Cause of Death: Quick Reference PDF (Doc)
Tools & resources
- Medical Certifier Worksheet PDF (Doc)
- VIP EDRS Handout Sheet for Medical Certifiers PDF (Doc)
- VIP Electronic Death Registration System -Introduction and Overview PDF (Doc)
- Electronic Death Registration System Brochure PDF (Doc)
- Memo to Massachusetts Licensed Physicians regarding the Electronic Death Registration System PDF (Doc)
- Vitals Information Partnership (VIP) Contingency Plan PDF (Doc)
- Primary Burial Agent Directory (Doc)