A Trusted Partner in Whole-Body Donation for Hospice Teams and Families
MedCure works alongside hospice professionals and caregivers to provide a clear, compassionate process for end-of-life donation, honoring each gift and supporting every step.
Real Impact. Right Now. All Across the U.S.
118,000+
registered donors
Supporting research &
training in 45 states
$0 cost for donation,
transportation, or cremation
Trusted by Leading Medical Institutions & Research Partners
How the Donation Process Works for Hospice Patients
Before You Call
Who Should Call:
- Whether initiating a pre-screening or reporting a passing, the legal Next of Kin or an authorized representative (such as someone with Health Care Power of Attorney) should be the one to call.
- This person will give consent and coordinate next steps.
What to Have Ready:
- Donor’s medical history (e.g., major surgeries, infections, etc.)
- Donor’s social history (e.g., homelessness, incarceration, drug use, etc.)
- Social Security Number of the donor
- Any legal documents (Health Care POA, Advanced Directive, etc.)
If the donor has already passed:
- Time of official death pronouncement and readiness for transport
Step 1: Initiate Pre‑Screening (Strongly Recommended)
Download the Hospice Patient Registry Kit to begin the process.
This kit includes:
- A brief pre-screening form
- Consent forms
- Family guidance materials
- MedCure’s contact information for 24/7 support
Who should complete it?
- A family member or legal representative, in coordination with the care team.
Why it helps:
- Filing paperwork in advance saves time, reduces emotional burden, and ensures clear communication.
Step 2: At the Time of Passing
Call MedCure immediately at
— available 24/7
* The legal Next of Kin or authorized representative must place the call.
Here's what happens:
- Eligibility Screening (15–20 min)
- Medical and social history is confirmed.
- Consent Verification (10–15 min)
- Completed forms are reviewed or filled in.
- Two witness signatures are required – one must be a disinterested party (Or legal agent like POA or HPOA).
- Next Steps (10–15 min)
- Details for transportation, death certificate, cremation, and family communications are reviewed.
Step 3: MedCure Handles the Rest
- Coordinates no-cost transport through a licensed funeral home
- Provides cremation at no cost
- Sends one certified death certificate (typically within ~12 weeks)
- Returns cremated remains (typically within ~5 months), or placed in an ossuary
Resources for Caregivers & Hospice Teams
Hospice Patient Registry Kit
Includes:
- Pre-screen form
- Consent forms
- Donation overview for families
- MedCure contact info
Start the process or pre-screen today.
Education Request Form for Professional Caregivers
Request printed kits, brochures, or donation resources for your facility.
Request a Custom Webinar for Your Team
MedCure will host a short session to train and walk your team through the process.
Trusted by Families. Recognized by Medical Leaders.
“MedCure walked us through every step with compassion. Knowing my father helped train doctors gave our family peace.”
— Jessica M., Donor Family
“The care and respect we received made a difficult time much easier. We’re proud to know our mother’s gift will help others.”
— David and Lina, Donor Family
MedCure is fully accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and operates in compliance with the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) and all applicable federal and state regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need to complete pre-screening to donate?
No, but it’s strongly recommended. Pre-screening gives MedCure a head start in evaluating potential eligibility and helps families understand the process in advance. It can also reduce delays and confusion at the time of passing.
What Should I Do If A Death Has Already Occurred Or A Patient Is Close To Passing?
If your patient has already passed, they may still qualify for whole body donation. To increase the chances of acceptance, please contact MedCure immediately at 1-866-560-2525. For patients currently receiving hospice care or nearing end of life, it’s also essential to reach out to MedCure as soon as possible. Our dedicated Donation Coordinators are available 24/7 to guide families through the process, assisting with the completion and submission of all necessary consent forms.
Does pre-screening guarantee that the donor will be accepted?
No. Final eligibility is always determined after death, during a brief screening call with MedCure. Pre-screening is simply a helpful planning tool—it does not lock in eligibility.
Should My Patient Use The Online Registration Form Or Call To Register?
If a patient is in hospice care or has a terminal illness, contacting MedCure to begin the registration process is the best first step. By starting early, our team can provide timely support to both patients and their families. During this call, our dedicated Donation Coordinators will guide you through the eligibility screening, review our Terms and Conditions, explain the consent form process, and outline what steps to take at the time of passing.
How Do I Talk to My Patients About Body Donation?
There are only three options that a person has in relation to their final disposition, which is Burial, Cremation or Donation. People already know about burial and cremation. In our experience, people do not know about body donation until someone like you tells them about it. That is where hospice and hospital employees, funeral directors, and other end-of-life care professionals come in. If you are interested in learning more about presenting the idea of body donation to your patients or to families, you can register for one of our webinars or schedule an in-service with one of our Education Directors.
Who can initiate the donation process? Can the patient start it themselves?
Patients may express their wish to donate and begin pre-screening, but at the time of passing, the legal Next of Kin or authorized representative (such as someone with Power of Attorney) must call MedCure and complete all final consent documentation.
What information or documents will we need when we call MedCure?
The caller should be ready with:
- Donor’s medical history (surgeries, diagnoses, infections)
- Social history (e.g., homelessness, incarceration, drug use)
- Donor’s Social Security Number
- Legal documents (Health Care POA or Advanced Directive, if applicable)
- If the donor has passed: time of death and transport readiness
How Does My Patient Complete The Donation Consent Form?
For your convenience, MedCure’s consent form is available for download on our website. You can also request to receive the form by fax, email, or mail. If you need assistance completing the form, our team is here to help—just give us a call, and we’ll guide you through each step. Please note that due to regulatory updates, our consent form is frequently revised. To ensure accuracy, we recommend always printing the latest version directly from our website before sharing it with patients or families.
What If My Patient Can't Sign The Forms Themselves?
If someone holds a Health Care Power of Attorney (HPOA) or similar authorization to make decisions on behalf of a patient, they may sign the consent forms prior to the patient’s passing. However, we request that the HPOA document be sent to us for review beforehand, allowing us to confirm it meets the requirements for donation authorization.
In cases where no HPOA is in place, the patient’s legal Next of Kin may sign the consent forms, but only after the patient has passed. This ensures compliance with our consent process and respects the patient’s final wishes.
Is My Patient Eligible For Body Donation?
Most people who wish to donate are eligible. MedCure has no upper age restrictions and can accept donations from individuals with a wide variety of medical conditions. The most common reasons for a decline include a diagnosis of certain communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or C, history of intravenous (IV) drug use, recent prolonged incarceration, institutionalization, or homelessness, and being severely over or under weight at the time of passing. MedCure accepts donors from most states within the continental United States.
How Will Our Staff Know What To Do When The Patient Passes?
Once a patient is registered with MedCure, our Donation Coordinators will notify the medical facility to inform them of the patient’s donor status. We will then send a MedCure Donor Flyer via fax or email, which can be added to the patient’s chart. This flyer provides the medical staff with clear instructions for the time of passing, ensuring a smooth and respectful donation process.
Who Is Responsible For Providing Transportation To A MedCure Facility?
After completing the eligibility screening at the time of passing, MedCure will make arrangements for transportation and care. MedCure covers transportation expenses once acceptance is determined at time of final transportation to a MedCure facility. Donor families are encouraged to not contact a funeral home themselves at the time of passing.
Is There Really No Cost To Body Donation?
Once a MedCure donor is accepted at the time of final transportation, all donation-related expenses will be covered. These include transportation arrangements, one certified copy of the death certificate, cremation, and either the return of the cremated remains to the family or placement in an ossuary.
Will Body Donation Interfere With Funeral Arrangements?
Open casket funerals are not possible with whole body donation. However, many families choose to hold a memorial service after they receive cremated remains.
How Long Before A Death Certificate And Cremated Remains Are Sent To The Family?
Families typically receive the death certificate within 8 to 12 weeks, depending upon which county or state is processing the DC. Cremated remains are sent to the family within an average of about 5 months after the time of passing.
Can My Patient's Family Also Donate Money To Help Fund Medical Research?
Since MedCure is a for-profit organization, we can’t accept financial donations. However, there are several non-profit organizations and charities out there that accept financial donations to help support medical research.
Can My Patient's Family Find Out How Their Donation Helped Benefit The Medical Community?
MedCure can provide donor families with a letter containing general information about the types of research and/or educational programs that their loved one’s donation has benefited. Unfortunately, we MedCure cannot guarantee matching a donation with a specific type of research or organization. Placement largely depends on current medical research and training needs at the time of one’s passing. Also, since there is no autopsy performed as part of the donation process, we are unable to provide information regarding diagnoses or cause of death in these letters.
It does take some time for us to gather all of this information from the researchers and educators that we work with, so please be advised that this letter can take between 8 – 12 months to be sent to the family. If a donor family is interested in receiving this letter, they can call our Donation Coordination team any time after their loved one’s passing to request it over the phone.
Can we talk to someone at MedCure to walk us through everything?
Yes. Our Donation Coordinators are available 24/7 at 1‑866‑560‑2525. Whether you’re a caregiver, patient, or family member, we’re here to support you at every step.
We’re Here to Support You and the Families You Serve
Whether you’re helping a patient prepare or supporting a grieving family, MedCure makes the process simple, compassionate, and fully supported.
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