Biographical Data Sheet

The Island Health Project would like the island community to be aware of recent policy changes that impact the families of persons who pass away while on the Island.

It has come to our attention that the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics requires a “Burial-Transit Permit” for bodies to be transported across state lines. In this case from New York to Connecticut. The family must complete a Biographical Data Sheet (BDS) (accessible through this link and the link button below) for the IHP to apply for the Burial-Transit Permit.  

Any person who passes on Fishers Island will require this document to be completed and then processed by the Suffolk County town clerk before their body can be transported to a funeral home in Connecticut. If this document is not completed, the deceased will have to remain in their home, supervised by the family, until Suffolk County comes to collect them. Their body, in this case, would be transferred to Long Island rather than to a nearby Connecticut funeral home.

The IHP is encouraging everyone in our Fishers Island community – island residents and seasonal residents alike – to take a few minutes to complete this BDS form.

You may access and print the document from the blue link above and below although it is also available at the IHP Office.

In addition to using this information to obtain the Burial-Transit Permit, these are the very questions that a funeral home needs answered to complete a death certificate.

Once your BDS is complete and returned to IHP, the information will be uploaded into EPIC, Yale Healthcare’s electronic medical records system, and securely stored. The information will then be accessible to us should it become necessary. The hard copy will be shredded.

Again, please take the time now to complete this form for yourself and members of your household. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Best,

Kapri Thomas, BSN, RN, EMT

Island Health Project

Fishers Island, NY