You are on page 1of 5

Clinical Procedure Clinical Manual / Nursing Practice Manual John Dempsey Hospital PROCEDURE FOR: POLICY: Post Mortem

Care

Page 1 of 5

1. The cultural, religious, and age-related needs of the deceased patient and the family/significant others will be considered whenever delivering post-mortem care. 2. The body of the deceased will be treated in a manner that maintains dignity and respect. 3. The patients ID bracelet is to be left in place. Jewelry or other patient valuables may be given to a spouse or next of kin as documented in patient registration, unless there are known concerns. Refer to the HAM policy Patient Valuables (11-031). Any jewelry which remains on the body or is sent to the hospital safe will be clearly documented in the patient record. 4. The Transportation Aide or designee will be responsible for the transportation of the deceased patient with all required paperwork. 5. In the event of insufficient space in the morgue, bodies should be transported to L-4004. 6. If there is any question of criminal involvement in the death: a. material removed which is or may be considered forensic evidence (e.g. knives, bullets, personal effects) will be preserved so as to maintain the integrity of the evidence and the chain of custody; b. the body will not be cleaned and prepared prior to transfer to the morgue; and c. a staff member will be present at all times when family/ significant others view the body.

PROCEDURE: ACTION 1. Notify the Nursing Supervisor, Attending Physician, Pastoral Care and/or Dept. of Social Work as needed. POINTS OF EMPHASIS 1. Refer to HAM as needed for clarification regarding: a. Death of a Patient (07-010) b. Medical Examiners Case (07-011) c. Autopsy Services (07-012) d. Organ-Tissue Body Donations (07016) 2. Foley catheters may be removed even if autopsy is planned.

2. Bathe the body and remove tubes or shorten them to the entry point unless autopsy is indicated. Return dentures to the mouth. Cover any mutilated or defaced areas of the body.

Clinical Procedure Clinical Manual / Nursing Practice Manual John Dempsey Hospital PROCEDURE FOR: Post Mortem Care

Page 2 of 5

For infants, gently remove peripheral IVs and endotracheal tubes; other indwelling tubes such as umbilical catheters, central lines, and chest tubes will be tied in a knot and left in place. Dressings and tapes may be removed from the body. Diaper the infant. 3. Offer opportunity for family/ significant others to view body after it has been cleaned and prepared and before it has been enclosed in a shroud (body bag). 3. Viewing should occur in an area that will neither disrupt grieving nor adversely affect other patients, supporting them as needed by providing them with information, as appropriate, and by creating an atmosphere of caring. 4. This may be done by nursing or medical staff. 5. Nursing is responsible for completing the Log for Expired Patients and entering a note in the record about the event(s) most closely related to the death. Physicians are responsible for completing all other documentation. If the case is reportable to the Medical examiner, the attending physician must obtain a ME# for the body. All other paperwork should remain with the patient record to be forwarded to Health Information Management Dept.

4.

Have family sign Permission for Body Release form. Obtain shroud and all other necessary forms: for all patients a. Log for Expired Patients b. Certificate of Death c. LifeChoice Donor Services documentation for bodies to undergo autopsy: d. Post-Mortem Permission e. Clinical Context Data for Autopsy for deaths reportable to Medical Examiner: f. Hospital Report of Death

5.

6.

Preparation of adults: a. Unzip shroud so it is open next to body.

6. Refer to steps #10 and 11 for preparation and shrouding of infants.

Clinical Procedure Clinical Manual / Nursing Practice Manual John Dempsey Hospital PROCEDURE FOR: Post Mortem Care

Page 3 of 5

a. Complete ID tags with patient name and medical record number. b. Enclose wrists with ABDs and fold arms over abdomen, then tie wrists to secure in place. c. Enclose ankles with ABD pads then secure together with ties and attach ID tag to toe. d. Position rectal pad in place. e. Transfer body onto shroud and secure shroud with zipper, attaching ID tag to shroud.

7. Call Transportation to transport the body to the morgue. a. 7am-11pm, call Transportation Department. b. 11pm-7am contact Transportation via beeper or hospital operator.

7. The Lead Transportation Aide assigns a Transportation Aide to perform the transport. Third shift Transportation will be assigned via beeper and the Transport Aide will contact the Nursing Supervisor for assistance as needed. 8. Morgue stretcher shall be used whenever possible. When transferring body to stretcher, consider the use of safe lifting devices. Assure enough people are involved with moving the body to avoid risk of injury to workers or the body itself. 9. An empty elevator should be secured before moving body, whenever possible. If a long delay occurs, transport personnel may request staff to exit elevator. Access to the morgue is through Anatomic Pathology with the appropriate door code/access.

8. Transportation Aide verifies patient identity and assists with placement of shrouded body onto the morgue stretcher. Body shall be placed in supine position and a clean sheet placed over the body / stretcher side rails.

9. Transporting personnel will take body to morgue using the patient elevators and rear hallway. Upon arrival in morgue: a. Wheel the body into the morgue walk-in cooler; b. Place all paperwork in the appropriate door slot. c. The morgue log sheet must be completed with the following information: a. Time/date of drop-off b. Patient name c. Unit or origin d. Name(s) of transporter(s) e. Indicate if body is in L-4004

Clinical Procedure Clinical Manual / Nursing Practice Manual John Dempsey Hospital PROCEDURE FOR: Post Mortem Care

Page 4 of 5

10. Preparation of Infants: Offer the family private time with the infant for as long as they require. Take the body to a private area (e.g. NICU procedure room) for preparation and shrouding.

11. Shrouding of infants body: a. Prepare ID tags as above. Place one tag on the infants body. b. Place infant diagonally inside the shroud: a. Bring the corner opposite the head over the babys head, loosely. b. Bring the corner opposite the feet over the babys feet, loosely. Wrap the first unused corner around the baby, snugly. Complete the wrap by bringing the remaining corner snugly around the babys body. Tape the exposed corner firmly. Mark the head position on shroud.

11. Infant may be wrapped securely with the shroud, not requiring pins or tape. If there is no post-mortem, infant may be swaddled with a blanket in the shroud.

c.

d.

e. f.

c. Pin second I.D. tag to top of shroud, with body resting in the supine position. d. Place shrouded body in an open crib in supine position and cover with a clean blanket. Cover the crib with a clean sheet. e. Close door to procedure room when exiting. f. Contact transportation (refer to step 7). The transportation aide will transport the infant to the morgue in the covered crib.

Clinical Procedure Clinical Manual / Nursing Practice Manual John Dempsey Hospital PROCEDURE FOR: APPROVAL: EFFECTIVE DATE: REVISION DATES: Post Mortem Care Nursing Standards Committee 2/95 10/97, 11/99, 1/03, 1/06, 4/09, 3/12

Page 5 of 5

You might also like