Office of Decedent Affairs - Saratoga Hospital
What do I do after a loved one has passed away at Saratoga Hospital?
The Office of Decedent Affairs works to ensure that all deaths are handled in a timely, caring, and thorough manner. Our goal is to provide guidance for families who have lost their loved ones at Saratoga Hospital.
When a patient passes away, we will assist families in providing information with regards to their options concerning:
- Autopsy
- Anatomical donation
- Funeral home arrangements
- Crematory decisions
Your loved one will be transported to the hospital morgue where the funeral home or crematory will arrive to pick them up for transport. If your loved one is a potential organ or tissue donor, Connect Life will contact the next of kin to discuss procurement.
After your loved one is transported to the hospital morgue, no access is allowed by family or friends. Viewing should be scheduled with the funeral home or cremation service of your choice at that respective facility.
Contact the funeral home or cremation service chosen to let them know your loved one has died and that the family would like to use their services. This information must be provided by the legal next of kin and they must hear from family before they will take your loved one.
In the event of the funeral home or cremation service being undecided at the time of death, call The Office of Decedent Affairs. Any personal belongings your loved one may have had during their hospital stay will go to the morgue and funeral home.
The funeral home or cremation service will receive a death certificate stating the cause of death. They will assist the family with the completion of the death certificate and will file the death certificate with the appropriate jurisdiction. After processing the death certificate, certified copies are obtained from the appropriate jurisdiction. In most cases, the funeral home or cremation service will order the death certificates you need as a service they provide.
Saratoga Hospital chaplains offer support for all faiths and spiritual needs. Services are available 24 hours a day.
For assistance, please call 518 -580-2625 or 518-580-2628.
If you have questions about a death that falls under the coroner's office jurisdiction, call 518-580-2551. Please leave a detailed message and we will contact you to assist.
The nursing staff and emergency room personnel may not have any knowledge of deaths that have been reported directly to the coroner's office.
Questions can be answered by calling 518-885-5381, ext. 4309.
Financial & Governmental Resources
Should you find yourself in a situation requiring assistance, financial or otherwise, the following organizations may be able to help. As with most agencies providing assistance, eligibility requirements may vary.
- Federal Assistance
- Social Security Administration: 800-772-1213. Survivor benefits vary; call to check eligibility.
- Veterans Affairs 1-800-827-1000. The deceased must have served in the U.S. Military. Survivor benefits vary; call to check eligibility.
- Saratoga County Social Services: 518-884-4140