At the time of death, the family is instructed to call the on-call hospice nurse, who makes a visit and pronounces the patient (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

While there is some variability by county, most counties do NOT require notification of the coroner for an anticipated death (as in hospice). If the patient had been seen by a physician in the last 20 days, if the patient has been pronounced (see below) and if there is a doctor willing to sign the death certificate.