We at Palomar UC San Diego Health wish to extend our deepest condolences to you and your loved ones during this difficult time. If you choose, you are more than welcome to see your loved one to say goodbye after they have passed, as this can help some cope better during the grieving process. 

Since it is our goal to provide you with the compassionate, expert care you deserve, we have provided a comprehensive list of resources and next steps you can take during this journey. 

In most cases, the deceased patient’s valuables and personal belongings are given to a family member, public guardian or conservator at the time of death. Identification and a signature from the member, public guardian or conservator are required to release them. If you have questions or concerns regarding valuables or belongings of a loved one, or need information on how and when to pick up valuables or belongings, please call the appropriate facility: 

• Palomar UC San Diego Health Escondido: 442.281.5000 

• Palomar UC San Diego Health Poway: 858.613.4000 

The nurse is required to call the Medical Examiner’s Office upon the death of some patients. Many times, only a phone call is necessary before the deceased is free to be sent to the mortuary. If the Medical Examiner needs to perform an autopsy, you will be notified. They will transport the body from the hospital to San Diego, where the autopsy will be performed at the Medical Examiner’s office. They will advise you regarding when burial or cremation may take place.  For more information, please visit San Diego County’s website.  To contact the Medical Examiner’s office, call 858.694.2895 

If you desire an autopsy, you are responsible for the cost of the procedure. Notify the attending physician to make a request. An attending physician may independently request an autopsy with your consent. The autopsy may then be performed by the health system at no charge to you. A hospital autopsy is a quality-control procedure, during which the attending physician may learn the exactness of a patient’s diagnosis and evaluate the effectiveness of therapy in relation to that diagnosis. This physician may also learn what complications and other diseases, if any, were present. 

The administrator of the mortuary or crematory you choose is responsible for issuing and handling all aspects of the patient’s death certificate. It is a good idea to order multiple death certificates, as you will need to send them to multiple places. 

If you, a family member or friend would like to make a memorial gift in honor of a loved one, you may do so by contacting the Palomar UC San Diego Health Foundation. They are able to handle inquiries by phone or mail to make arrangements that will compassionately honor and recognize a family member or friend who has passed away. Palomar UC San Diego Health Foundation staff members are ready to help and can assist with wording used in obituaries and memorial cards printed for services and celebration of life events. Palomar UC San Diego Health Foundation, along with most charitable agencies should the family direct gifts elsewhere, will thank donors with IRS–acceptable receipts and notify the decedent’s family of a gift being made without mentioning the gift amount size. For more information, please call 760.739.2787. For online giving, please go to the Palomar UC San Diego Health Foundation online giving page. 

The Indigent Burial Program pays for the disposition of bodies of deceased San Diego County residents whose estate cannot provide for a burial.  To qualify for Indigent Burial, the deceased must meet the following criteria: 

• They have no estate from which to pay the cost of a funeral. 

• They have no family who can afford to provide the service. 

• They are not eligible for burial assistance from the Social Security Administration or Veterans Administration. 

For more information, call 858.694.3500

After Your Loss PDF – Click to Download
After Your Loss Spanish PDF – Click to Download 

Palomar UC San Diego Health Poway
15615 Pomerado Road
Poway, CA 92064
(858) 613-4000

Palomar UC San Diego Health Escondido
2185 Citracado Parkway
Escondido, CA 92029
(442) 281-5000