Hospice Death Reporting Requirements

The Las Animas County Coroner’s Office works with hospice agencies to ensure deaths are reported accurately, reviewed appropriately, and handled with dignity and respect.

Hospice enrollment or an expected death does not remove the requirement to report injuries, falls, fractures, or other circumstances that may affect Coroner jurisdiction.

Reporting Requirements

For every hospice death occurring in Las Animas County, the hospice agency must:

• Complete the Las Animas County Coroner OK Form promptly after pronouncement and before removal of the decedent.

• Provide complete and accurate information concerning the death, terminal diagnosis, hospice admission, pronouncement, certifying physician, next of kin, and selected funeral home.

• Report all known or suspected falls, fractures, head strikes, injuries, traumatic events, medication concerns, equipment-related events, emergency evaluations, hospitalizations, or law-enforcement involvement.

• Report an injury or event even when hospice personnel believe it was minor, resolved, or unrelated to the death.

• Promptly provide complete and legible medical records or clarification when requested by the Coroner’s Office.

• Contact the Coroner’s Office before removal whenever reportability or jurisdiction is uncertain.

Submission of the Coroner OK Form does not automatically authorize removal. The decedent may be released only after approval is provided by the Coroner or a Deputy Coroner.

Coroner Observation

A hospice agency that fails to meet reporting requirements may be placed under Coroner Observation.

Coroner Observation means the agency is under formal review by the Las Animas County Coroner’s Office because its reporting has been incomplete, inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise inconsistent with required reporting practices.

While under Coroner Observation:

• Every death occurring under the care of that hospice agency within Las Animas County must be reported directly to the Coroner’s Office before removal.

• A Coroner or Deputy Coroner will respond to each death and independently review the circumstances before authorizing release.

• The Coroner’s Office may conduct a scene investigation, examine the decedent, review medical records, or take other investigative action as necessary.

• Coroner Observation will remain in effect until the agency demonstrates consistent, accurate, complete, and compliant reporting practices.

False, misleading, or omitted information may result in an expanded investigation, referral to an appropriate regulatory authority, or other action authorized by Colorado law.

Questions

Questions regarding hospice reporting should be directed to the Las Animas County Coroner’s Office at 719-845-9716.