Acute Bereavement Services provides The Nebraska Medical Center with the opportunity
to assure that the surviving relatives of all deceased patients are provided with
a consistent level of care, guidance and support during the initial stages of grief.
Acute Bereavement Services Team
The Acute Bereavement Services (ABS) team includes Pastoral Care, Nursing Resource
Coordinators and Donate Life Services, who work in collaboration with the health-care
team to provide care to the dying patient and family. The ABS staff meets the federal
regulations regarding mandatory reporting of all deaths to the State Organ Procurement
Organization.
Bereavement care includes offering emotional, physical and spiritual support to
families, assisting with personal belongings, coroner notification, explaining autopsy
options, initiation of the organ and tissue donation process and providing information
related to funeral arrangements.
Assistance with Personal Belongings and Funeral Home Information The ABS coordinators
oversee the recording and transfer of patient belongings to the appropriate family
member. Experienced with the protocols of Midwest funeral homes, the ABS coordinators
can assist families and reduce the stress of initiating the burial process. They
can also provide information about other burial options both locally and across
state boundaries.
Autopsy Options
The ABS coordinators offer the option of autopsy to all family members as a service
to The Nebraska Medical Center patients. The Clinical Abstract for Autopsy form
is a comprehensive autopsy and research form that facilitates a family's wish for
autopsy and formally requisitions Pathology Services.
Coroner Notification and Death Certificate Initiation
The ABS team is responsible for obtaining specific information required by the coroner's
office. It is presented in a clear and concise format to assist the coroner's office
in expediting his/her investigation in all cases under his jurisdiction. The Funeral
Home Information form is initiated by the ABS team and transferred with the deceased
to the funeral home to assist the funeral home directors in completing the death
certificates in a timely manner.
Organ and Tissue Donation Option
The ABS team ensures that the hospital's obligation and the patient's wishes regarding
organ and tissue donation are met through an informed consent process. At the time
of death, each family is given the option to participate in the organ and tissue
donor program. When donation is not an option due to medical criteria, families
are counseled on the reason why they were unable to donate. A member of the ABS
team is available to guide the family through the donation process. The core team
of ABS professionals has completed specific training, which meets federal guidelines
and assists the medical staff and bereaved families in making educated decisions
about organ and tissue donation. If you are a physician and have questions specific
to declaration of brain death, donor management or potential suitability for organ
and tissue donation, please contact the Nebraska Medical Center Organ Recovery Coordinator
on call through the hospital operator.
Pastoral Care (402) 552-3219
Organ Recovery Services, (402) 559-9566
Acute Bereavement Services, Organ Recovery Services
(800) 95-ORGAN, (800) 956-7426
The Nebraska Medical Center (800) 922-0000