June 2018

Page A18 JUNE 2018 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A By Jim Starks, CFuE, CCrE From the First Call to Release: Chain of Custody with Cremation (Part 3) In the April issue, we discussed chain of custody from the notifica- tion of death through procedures at the funeral home. Last month followed the transfer to the crematory and processing while there. In this final installment we will discuss the remaining steps in the chain of custody. BACK TO FUNERAL HOME Receipt of Cremated Human Remains A systematic series of procedures designed to document activ- ity and certify accuracy is the most obvious way to ensure liabil- ity-safe cremation. First is to verify the name on the container or urn compared to the funeral home’s paperwork at the crematorium. The name on the container or urn must be the same name on the authorization accompanying the deceased to the crematory. The other critical area to verify is that the name on the Cer- tificate of Cremation also corresponds to the name on the au- thorization. And if a tracking number is used and listed on the paperwork, it must be the same number on all identification documentation. After the cremation has taken place, there must be documen- tation on when the cremated human remains were transferred back into the funeral home’s custody. This can be in different forms, including a receipt from the crematory along with a log- book of cremated human remains at the funeral home. Logged into Funeral Home Records Proper documentation of all cremated human remains is ab- solutely necessary. An accurate log of who placed the cremated human remains in storage and who removed them from stor- age is essential. Additionally, documentation from the arrange- ments regarding who is authorized to pick up the cremated hu- man remains should exist. The minimum amount of necessary documentation that should be kept on a printed log includes the following ele- ments: Protecting Your Families and Business This usually happens when an urn is personalized: When it comes back from the manufacturer it is placed on a shelf. And when the authorized agent arrives to retrieve the cre- mated human remains, they are given an empty urn. Be- fore releasing a temporary container or urn, the container should be checked to make sure it is not leaking and does not have any residue on the outside. Additionally, when the authorized representative takes custody of the cremated human remains, complete a signed and dated receipt stating control was transferred. In doing so, make a copy of the representative’s identi- fication and attach it to the receipt. This documentation can protect the funeral home from future claims, such as releasing the cremated human remains to the wrong per- son, by the family should they arise. Mailing When mailing the cremated human remains is request- ed, the shipper should always notify the firm/person that they are being mailed to before they are mailed, as well as request a return receipt that should be retained by the shipping firm. Whenever I write an article on cremation, I attempt to up- grade the cremation procedures that many of the death care providers are currently following. These procedures may take more time or may add cost to your firm. If they do, you may want to research what you are charging and adjust to reflect the dignity and respect that everyone needs to have when deal- ing with the consumers that chose cremation. • Name of deceased • Date of death • Date of cremation • Date placed in temporary storage • Metal ID disk number • Name and signature of person placing cremated hu- man remains in storage • Type of container • Date checked out and released • Name and signature of person releasing cremated human remains • Released to whom When recording information onto the log, never use White Out to erase a mistake. Draw a line through the erroneous entry, and enter the correct information on that line or the next available line. Identification on Urn If personal items are designated to be placed in the urn, it should be performed in front of the authorizing agent. If that is not an option there should be two staff personnel to witness the deposit of personal items in the urn. When the staff performs this procedure there should be documentation to record it was done. This needs to be done regardless of whether the cremated human remains are being taken home or transferred to a third party. On the bottom of the urn a label needs to be attached with the deceased’s name. This label needs to be at- tached in a manner that it will not fall off easily when moved. DISPOSITION OF CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS Record of Burial If the cremated human remains are transferred to a cemetery the funeral home should be present to witness them being placed in the grave or niche. This informa- tion – date, time, cemetery, location – should also be documented at the funeral home for future references. Transfer to Authorized Person Before the cremated human remains are released to the authorized representative, it is critical that the name on the temporary container or urn and the Certificate of Cremation match the name on all the other paper- work. If the crematory utilizes an identification num- ber on the temporary container or urn and Certificate of Cremation, these numbers must also correspond. Additional areas to verify before releasing the cremat- ed human remains include verifying the correct urn is being used and the cremated human remains were placed in the urn. It is not unheard of for a funeral di- rector to give a family member an empty urn. Jim Starks, CFuE, CCrE, is President of J. Starks Consulting in Lutz, FL, and a nationally-recognized trainer on funeral home and crema- tory risk management. He used his experience in both funeral home and crematory oper- ations and risk management, combined with his involvement with funeral homes of all sizes and geographies, to become an author- ity at controlling risk and loss in the death care industry, providing lectures and presentations to private firms, as well as regional, state and national associations. He also conducts private audits and risk assessments to independent funeral homes and crematories in the US and Canada, often identifying ways to save or generate thou- sands of dollars of profit. Jim is a Michigan and Indiana Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and ICCFA- and CANA-certified crematory operator, as well as Dean of ICCFA University’s College of Cremation Services. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming, the Mid-America School of Mortuary Science, and the ICCFA University. For more information on risk management in the death care industry, visit jstarksconsulting. com. Contact Jim at (813) 765-9844 or jim@jstarksconsulting.com. www.nomispublications.com Funeral Home & Cemetery News Contributors share insights and exchange ideas. B logs Muster Coaches 1-800-274-3619 Calhoun, KY Ed and Myra Ford (right) of E.H. Ford Mortuary pictured with John and Susan Muster (left) of Muster Coaches at the E.H. Ford Mortuary following the delivery of the firm’s Lincoln Coach and Lincoln Flower Car. E.H. Ford Mortuary Argenta, IL 62501 • 800-331-9093 • robertsanddowney.com For over thirty years Rick and Elizabeth Roberts, owners of Roberts & Downey, have been supplying the funeral industry with superior quality handcrafted hardwood chapel furniture, on a custom built to order basis. Queen Anne Collection Large Baby Bier/Cremation Altar as the base of the Urn Carrier, offers multi-purpose functionality. The enclosed Urn Carrier provides a way to present the cremains in a more formal manner for the funeral service. Urn Carrier Your authorized Howard Miller, Hekman and Woodmark dealer. Guaranteed 1 Unit in Stock on the 1 st of Each month! Service Corporation International Announces First Quarter 2018 Financial Results HOUSTON,TX— Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI) announced results for the first quarter of 2018. Tom Ryan , the Company’s Chairman and Chief Ex- ecutive Officer, commented on the first quarter of 2018: “Today we are pleased to report total adjusted earnings per share growth of 9 cents or about 24% quarter over quarter. Our adjusted operating cash flow was similarly strong during the quarter and grew approximately $18 million or 9.5% compared to last year. Continued on Page A21