DAVID L. LAKEY, M.D.

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES

1100 West 49th Street • Austin, Texas 78756

P.O. Box 149347 • Austin, Texas 78714-9347

1-888-963-7111 • www.dshs.state.tx.us

COMMISSIONER TTY: 1-800-735-2989

June 25, 2008
As Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, I want to share some important information with you about the new online death registration system, Texas Electronic Registrar (TER). House Bill 1739, passed during the 80th Texas Legislature, 2007, requires medical certifiers on a death certificate to submit the medical certification and attest to its validity using an electronic process approved by the State Registrar. After August 31, 2008, all cause-of-death information and medical certifications are required to be submitted electronically using the TER-Death registration system. The
TER system allows physicians to quickly complete cause-of-death information and death certification via the Internet. As a former practicing physician, I appreciate this convenience.
There are many benefits of using the TER-Death registration system. TER allows cause-of-death certification to be performed at any time from any location with Internet access. TER also allows a physician to delegate completion of the death certificate to office staff, while still requiring the physician to enter a personal identification number (PIN) to complete the actual electronic certification. This system is available at no charge to you.
Electronic death registration is a valuable new tool in public health surveillance. The speed of this system will provide medical researchers valuable mortality data faster than previously possible. Based on cause- of-death data, public health resources can be best directed towards prevention and education. Ultimately, use of TER will benefit the health of all Texans.
Finally, TER is user-friendly and requires minimal training for experienced Internet users. Please access www.texasvsu.org to sign up for TER. At this site, you may download educational resources such as the Quick Reference Guide to Electronic Medical Certification, and also view upcoming training opportunities in your area. This quick reference brochure provides step-by-step instructions to certify deaths in the TER system and we have enclosed one for your convenience.
I want to enlist your support in helping us improve the health of all Texans by asking you to be a participating partner in electronic death registration. I also urge you to share this letter and website, www.texasvsu.org, with colleagues so that we may ensure better statistical data to support a healthier Texas.
Sincerely,

David L. Lakey, M.D. Commissioner