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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Information for Physicians

Florida Dept. of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics

Cause of Death Training

Pursuant to Chapter 382, Florida Statutes, the cause of death medical certification is completed by a medical certifier, which includes physicians, medical examiners and autonomous advanced practice registered nurses. The Bureau of Vital Statistics, in cooperation with the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Association of Medical Examiners and Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners, have developed an online tutorial for certifying practitioners as an overview of the death registration process in Florida and how to go about properly completing the medical information on a Florida death record. 

The Cause of Death tutorial explains roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the death registration process, such as the certifying practitioner, the medical examiner and funeral director. The Cause of Death tutorial will demonstrate case scenarios highlighting the importance of quality data and the timely filing of death certificates.

 Cause of Death Tutorial For Florida Physicians

How to Become an Online EDRS certifier

If you are a certifying practitioner interested in becoming an online user of the Bureau of Vital Statistics Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS), click here to request the required access forms and training tutorial. The required access forms and a link to the training tutorial will be emailed to you shortly after submitting a request above.

Becoming an online EDRS certifier will help expedite the filing of the death record for your families and will make completing the medical portion easy and convenient. If you wish to receive EDRS training with a Bureau of Vital Statistics Quality Assurance representative, please contact our office at 904-359-6900 extension 9020.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) training website has additional training tutorials, manuals and training tools designed to highlight the importance of their roles in the registration process and how to use their best medical judgement to determine accurate information. Some of the online trainings offers free CME credits upon completion. Click link to visit the CDC/NCHS training website: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/training.htm.

DH150-849 What the Practitioner Should Know about Certifying Cause of Death on the Florida Death Certificate

DH150-995 Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS) Informational Brochure

Amendments

Changes to the medical portion of a death or fetal death record requires the completion and submission of a medical affidavit to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Instructions and mailing address can be found on the form. There is no amendment fee associated with a medical amendment. Questions on the medical affidavit should be directed to the Bureau of Vital Statistics Medical Unit at (904)359-6900, extension 9013. Click here for a medical amendment affidavit form.