Funeral directors know, when someone dies, things can happen quickly and all of a sudden there are a lot of plates spinning in the air all at once. Almost all of the plates stay spinning by the funeral director and support staff, and the precision dance that is a funeral service happens, and another life is honored in whatever way the family and friends chose. BUT...
Cover Photo By Georg Lippitsch - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63792494
With most families in the US choosing cremation as the method of disposition, there is an additional plate spinning even faster than the rest (cremation carries more risk and liability than all the others!) and if you do not own and operate your own cremation equipment the plate may seem to be spinning out of control. It is important for a funeral home to have a trusted cremation provider for many reasons.
Reputation and Trust
A funeral home’s reputation and trustworthiness are built on the quality of services it provides. By partnering with a reputable cremation provider, the funeral home can ensure that the deceased and their family will be treated with the utmost care, dignity, and respect throughout the cremation process. A trusted provider helps maintain the funeral home’s reputation and builds confidence among clients.
Compliance and Legal Requirements
Cremation involves legal and regulatory obligations that must be followed meticulously. A trusted cremation provider will have extensive knowledge of these requirements, ensuring that all necessary permits, documentation, and procedures are properly executed. This helps the funeral home remain compliant with local, state, and federal laws, minimizing any potential legal issues.
Professional Expertise and Facilities
Cremation requires specialized knowledge, equipment, and facilities. A trusted cremation provider will have trained professionals who are experienced in conducting cremations, ensuring that the process is carried out safely and efficiently. They will also have appropriate cremation chambers and equipment, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and quality.
Identification and Chain of Custody
Every firm dealing with the deceased should have an iron-clad ID and Chain of Custody process; this is even more important for a crematory for the obvious reason. Cremation is irreversible. There is no way to prove who's ashes are in the urn after a cremation, so if someone makes an accusation of wrongful cremation, the only way to defend against this is with a written, implemented, enforced, and consistently followed process and documentation. All staff should be able to recite this process in detail whenever asked, to foster confidence that the right person is in the right place at the right time in their journey while in their care.
Compassionate Service
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is an emotionally challenging time for families. A funeral home’s partnership with a cremation provider that keeps this in the forefront of their service brings cohesive compassionate and supportive services to grieving families. The cremation provider’s staff can offer guidance, answer questions, and address any concerns related to the cremation process, providing comfort and reassurance during a difficult period.
Clear Communication and Accountability
A trusted cremation provider maintains open and clear communication with the funeral home and the families they serve. They keep the funeral home informed about the progress of the cremation process to ensure that families receive accurate and timely information. This transparency helps build trust, and if any issues arise, a trusted provider takes responsibility and addresses them promptly.
Overall, partnering with a trusted cremation provider allows a funeral home to provide professional, reliable, and compassionate cremation services to its clients. It ensures that the deceased and their families receive the highest level of care and support during a sensitive time, while also upholding the funeral home’s reputation and compliance with legal requirements.
Due Diligence Matters!
Regardless of how good your 3rd party cremation provider is, it is always a good idea to back that up with due diligence.
A proactive approach contracting an outside expert to inspect your cremation provider will go a long way to reduce risk and liability, ESPECIALLY if you’re falsely accused of doing something wrong.
