Delaware County coroner reports rising caseload and backlog of death‑certificate reviews
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Summary
Coroner Gavin Green told the council the office has handled 578 calls so far in 2025 and projects about 694 cases for the year. He said many cases come via hospital referrals after injury and require extensive records review, creating a multi‑week backlog and delays for families and funeral homes.
Delaware County Coroner Gavin Green briefed the council on Oct. 28 about a growing caseload and a backlog of death‑certificate reviews that he said is stretching staff resources and delaying certificates for families and funeral homes.
Green said his office had received 578 case calls to date and projects roughly 694 cases for 2025. He attributed the increase not primarily to overdoses or homicides but to referrals from hospitals and medical reviewers when deaths involve recent injuries — for example, elderly residents who fall, are hospitalized and later die. Those matters "get kicked over to me, and then I have to review it. At our expense," he said, describing subpoenas for medical records and prolonged investigatory work.
Green said many cases require extensive medical‑record collection, subpoenas and interviews; that work can take "weeks, if not months," and places extra burdens on staff and families awaiting certificates. He also told council the county experiences more requests for records and follow‑up when outside reviewers or hospital contractors decline to sign a death certificate and refer the matter to the coroner.
Council members and staff discussed operational consequences: the coroner's backlog creates delays for funeral homes that cannot finalize paperwork and billing without a registered death certificate. Green urged the council and staff to coordinate with hospitals and the local health department to clarify referral criteria and reduce unnecessary transfers of cases that do not require coroner review.
What’s next: Coroner’s staff will continue processing pending cases; council members suggested pursuing follow‑up with local hospitals and the health department to identify ways to shorten record requests and reduce administrative delay.