eCedent Frequently Asked Questions:
Physician Edition

Thank you for using eCedent, the online software that’s revolutionizing how death certificates are done! We’ve prepared a list of frequently asked questions and answers to help you get the most from eCedent. If you don’t see your question here, please scroll down for more information about how to contact our technical support team.

How do I login to eCedent?
What should I do if I forgot my password?
How do I change my password or PIN?
How do I start working with decedent records?
How do I open an existing record?
What are the different categories of cases on my Home page, and how are cases divided into these categories?
How do I accept (or decline) a new case?
What happens if I decline?
What happens if I want to review the medical records before deciding?
What happens if I choose to certify the cause of death?
After accepting a case, how do I add or change information about the decedent and/or the death?
How do I use the Certification section?
How do I return to the previous screen?
What happens when I enter my PIN and choose Certify Death?
How do I print a completed death certificate for my file?
A completed certificate I signed and wish to print is not showing the blue ?Download PDF Document? link. Why not?
My question was not addressed in this FAQ section! Where can I get help?

 

 

How do I login to eCedent?
Using your Internet browser, go to www.ecedent.com. Enter your username (your complete email address) and password on the right-hand side of the Home page, then click Sign In. Usernames and passwords are case-sensitive, which means you should enter them carefully, exactly as they were originally created (using a combination of upper- and lower-case letters if needed).

 

What should I do if I forget my password?
Enter your username, then select Forgot My Password (located beneath the login area), and the system will guide you through a few simple steps. You will be asked to supply an email address (your username) where you want the password sent, and to click the Submit button. eCedent will send an email to you at that address, containing your password.

 

How do I change my password or PIN?
You can change your password and PIN anytime you like. We suggest you change your password and PIN immediately after your first login. After login, go to my account (see the link in the upper-right corner of your screen). Select Change Your Username or Change Your PIN. On the next screen, you will be asked to supply your current and new information, and to confirm the changes by clicking the Submit button. eCedent will send you an email containing your new password or PIN.

 

How do I start working with decedent records?
First, you must be logged in to create or open a record. After successful login, the system will open your Home page. Notice that your name, affiliated hospital, and address will appear in the upper right-hand area of the screen. You will see a list of all your cases, divided into three different categories (see below for details). The list includes each decedent?s name, date of death, and who assigned the case to you. The records are listed in order by date of death, with the most recent dates of death first.

 

How do I open an existing record?
On your Home page, single-left-click on a decedent?s name to select that record.

 

What are the different categories of cases on my Home page, and how are cases divided into these categories?
There are three different categories of cases displayed on your Home page:
- Certificates Awaiting Your Signature
- New Certificates Assigned To You
- Completed Certificates

The Home page first displays a list of all Certificates Awaiting Your Signature (including each decedent's name, date of death, and who assigned the case to you). These come from Health Information Management departments at hospitals or skilled nursing facilities, or from funeral homes. These are cases for which you have already agreed to certify the cause of death and sign the death certificate.

The second grouping on the Home page is the list of New Certificates Assigned To You (including each decedent's name, date of death, and who assigned the case to you). You will need to accept (if the case is yours) or decline (if an error has been made and/or it is not your case) each new certificate assigned to you.

At the bottom of the page is the link allowing you to View Completed Certificates. These are certificates that have already been signed by you AND by the funeral home.

 

How do I accept (or decline) a new case?
Single-left-click on the decedent name in the list of New Certificates Assigned to You.
You will be taken to a page showing Patient Data, and including three buttons (choices) at the bottom: "I decline to certify the cause of death"; "I prefer to review the Medical Records before deciding"; and "Yes, I will certify the cause of death."

 

What happens if I decline?
eCedent will give you a pop-up message asking if you're sure you want to decline. If you click "OK," you will be returned to your Home page. Notice that the declined decedent is now gone from your list.

 

What happens if I want to review the medical records before deciding?
eCedent will ask you to set a reminder (via your choice of email, fax, or text message) to be sent to you at the interval you specify in the pull-down menu. Click Set Reminder, and you will be returned to your Home page. The record you need to review continues to appear in the list of New Certificates Assigned to You.

 

What happens if I choose to certify the cause of death?
eCedent will take you to the patient's main data screen, where you can enter Cause of Death information and select various options for Certification (signing). See the next answer for more details.

 

After accepting a case, how do I add or change information about the decedent and/or the death?
These are cases listed under the heading Certificates Awaiting Your Signature. To enter or modify data, single-left-click on the decedent's name. You will be taken to decedent's main screen, which includes three sections: Patient Data (already filled out by the assigning party), Cause of Death (which you must fill out), and Certification (the area where you will sign). Make your changes/additions as needed in the Cause of Death section.

 

How do I use the Certification section?
First, click to indicate your status on this case (as BOTH the certifying and pronouncing physician; as the certifying physician only; or as the coroner/medical examiner as well as the physician). Notice that the screen will also indicate whether or not the case has already been accepted by the funeral home; if not, you will be notified when this occurs.
Complete and sign the certificate by entering your PIN number and clicking on the Certify Death button. OR, you may save all the information you've entered by clicking Save Data Only, and return to sign later.

 

How do I return to the previous screen?
At any time, you can navigate to the prior screen by using the "back" button on your Internet browser. (However, if you do so before clicking on Save or Certify Death, your data will be lost.)

 

What happens when I enter my PIN and choose Certify Death?
A viewable version of the death certificate will appear on your screen as a .PDF file. Find the yellow "Click Here to Sign" button in the signature area and click on it (or choose Cancel if you do not wish to sign now). After you click on "Click Here to Sign," you will see a confirmation message that your signature was accepted. When you return to your Home page, the decedent record you just signed will no longer appear under Certificates Awaiting Your Signature; it will have moved to the category Completed Certificates. However, the completed death certificate will not be available to you (for viewing OR printing) until the funeral home has also signed.

 

How do I print a completed death certificate for my file?
To access completed certificates, scroll to the bottom of the Home page and choose View Completed Certificates, then single-left-click on the record you want to print. If a blue Download PDF Document link appears in the lower right-hand portion of the decedent’s screen, click on it. (You may instead see a note that the certificate is "Not yet signed by funeral home," in which case you cannot print it at this time.) After you select Download PDF Document, the death certificate will display as a PDF; choose the Print icon from the upper-left-corner of the screen, or, under File, select Print. You can print a certificate as many times as you like, as often as you like. This is NOT an official copy, but is for your file only. 

 

A completed certificate I signed and wish to print is not showing the blue ?Download PDF Document? link. Why not?
Please note that only certificates which have been completed and signed by the funeral home are available for you to view and print. If the download option is not available because the funeral home has not signed, eCedent will display a note on the screen to this effect. Once the funeral home has signed, you'll be notified by email, and the Download option will appear in the decedent's record.

 

My question was not addressed in this FAQ section! Where can I get help?
We apologize that our FAQ section did not resolve your question. We want to make your eCedent experience easy! Please contact one of our friendly technical support people via email at support@ecedent.com. Or call us toll-free at 1.866.472.0367. Again, we thank you for using eCedent!