How do I get signed up for TER?
Your facility will have a person assigned as the Local Administrator. This will be the person who will managethe TER account. The Local Administrator adds members of the facility into the TER system, identifies their role in the system, assigns passwords and UserlD (other than medical Certifiers) and handles issues concerning the TER system. The Local Administrator is also responsible for updating the User Security tables by removing the names of past employees and adding the names of new employees.
- Require all staff and physicians to take the TER Death Online Training Course. This will familiarize them with the basic concepts of the TER system. The training can be found at .
- Sign up all physicians for TER.
Go to .
Click on link to Texas Electronic Registrar.
Click on link Request TER Death Process for Physicians.
Enroll each physician into the TER system - the practice and physician information will be specific for each physician, the address information of group, facility or practice will be the same for each physician, the TER Administrator information will be the same for each physician and the network Administrator will be the same for each physician. (The network administrator is the person within your facility that you would call if you are having computer problems - if you don't have a person in this capacity leave this portion blank.)
***** Fill out the address, local administrator and network administrator information on a manual registration form - copy and complete physician information on each physician. ****
- In 10-15 days you will receive an email from TER for each physician registered. The email will include the physicians UserlD, password and temporary PIN. The email will be sent both to the local administrator and the physician if both email addresses are included on the registration form. The UserlD and password will remain the same - the physician will change the PIN the first time the system is used. The new PIN selected by the physician will become the permanent PIN.
**** Be sure and place the TER address inyour favorites, so that the email is not considered spam and 'thrown out! ****
- The Local Administrator will add staff members to the TER system, assigning them userlDs and passwords, so that they may enter information into the TER System. Staff members may complete the information on TER Medical tabs 1, 2 &3 -but only the physician may certify the record using the PIN as the signature.
TER -DEATH Quick REFERENCE GUIDE 2011
The funeral home taking possession of the body will start the death record in the TER system.
The funeral home will:
- fill out the demographic tabs
- electronically assign a physician in TER
- send an email to that physician assigning this death certificate to the physician as medical certifier for the record
The physician assigned as medical certifier for the record is generally the physician who would bemost familiar with the cause of death for the decedent -- ER physician, surgeon, specialist, family practitioner, a medical person who has seen the decedent recently and is aware of the medical conditions involved with the cause of death. (The medical certifier may request medical information from other physicians who have recently treated the decedent).
Physicians may only sign death certificate if the cause of death was natural - all other situations will need to be assigned to a medical examiner or Justice of the Peace.
The physician will:
- log into TER using the User ID and password assigned when registering for TER
Upon registering for TER the Medical Certifier will be sent an email with the UserlD and password for that registrant. The medical certifier will also be given a temporary PIN -this will be changed by the Medical Certifier the first time the TER system is used.
- open the record in TER using the EDR number assigned to the record
The Medical Certifier has 5 days to complete the medical tabs in TER and send the record back to the funeral home (from the date the [4[| receives the email notification of the record being assigned)
fill out the medical tabs
certify the record
the record will automatically be sent back to the funeral home
The funeral home will:
- verify the record
- send the record to the local registrar
The local registrar will:
check the record for errors
assign a local file number and date
send the record to the state DSHS- VSU office
***THE MEDICAL CERTIFIERS STAFF MAY ENTER THE INFORMATION INTO THE TER MEDICAL TABS - THE MEDICAL CERTIFIER MUST CHECK THE RECORD FOR ACCURACY AND CERTIFY -SIGN (PIN) THE RECORD ****
1)Why do I have to use the TER system?
Health & Safety Code 193.005 (h) - The person completing the medical certification shall submit the information and attest to its validity using an electronic process approved by the state registrar.
(This statute has been effective as of September 1, 2008.)
2)How do I get signed up for TER?
Your facility's local administrator can sign you up as a medical certifier.
You can go to our web page and sign up on-line or download a registration form and fax it.
You will receive a User ID, password and PIN number.
3)How do I use TER?
You will sign into the TER system, complete medical tab 3 (cause of death), review all information on medical tabs 1-3 and then certify the death record.
Once you have certified the record it will automatically be returned to the funeral home for completion and filing.
4)How can I be trained to use TER?
Use the on-line training module available at
Attend the medical certifier sessions offered at a VSU regional or annual conference. For information on VSU conferences and training opportunities please visit our website regularly, .
Review the TER quick reference guide to refresh your knowledge of the TER system.
5)What if I need assistance?
For a question regarding the use and functionality of the TER system email VSU at
or call at 888-963-7111 ext.3490.
For a question regarding the interpretation of the statutes or training opportunities contact your local VSU representative (Area VSU representative information is available on our web page, ).
6)Why is it important to use the TER system?
Provides a faster, more accurate, more complete certificate to your customers
Provides accurate, complete, uniform data across the state pertinent to current health issues
Provides data for statistical information to assess the general health of the population to allocate services, funding and other medical research.