Behind the Scenes: Funeral Services in the hospital

Date: September 24, 2023

Location: Outside the Emergency Room at Peking University Third Hospital

Standing near the doors of the emergency room at Peking University Third Hospital, I encountered someone I hadn’t expected—a funeral worker. At first, I mistook him for the relative of a recently admitted patient, but it quickly became clear that he was there for a different reason. He was part of a funeral services company, present at the hospital to offer services in the unfortunate event of a death. Our conversation revealed an aspect of hospital life that often remains hidden—the quiet presence of those managing death behind the scenes.

An Unseen Job at the Hospital

Curious about his role, I asked, "You’re not a family member—who are you?"

He responded, "I work in the funeral business. When someone passes away, we handle the arrangements, like dressing the deceased." He explained that his job often involves walking around the hospital, not only waiting for a call but also speaking to families who might need their services.

I asked if there was a death in the emergency room that day. He replied, "No, I'm just walking around. I'm here a lot. Sometimes the families approach us if they need help."

The Process of Handling Death at the Hospital

When I asked how the deceased were removed from the emergency room, he confirmed, "Yes, when someone dies in the emergency room, they’re taken out through this door, and then moved to the morgue."

I was curious about his work routine and asked, "Do you spend the whole day here?"

He shook his head, "No, I’m not the only one. We’re part of a company, and there are people stationed at almost all the big hospitals. During the pandemic, we were very busy because, unfortunately, many people passed away."

I probed a bit more, asking if he could share any details about how often people pass away in the hospital. He hesitated, "The frequency varies, and it’s not something we’re really allowed to discuss. Hospitals don’t usually want people to know how many deaths occur in a month."

Connecting with Families in Need

I asked how he and his company connected with the families of the deceased. He explained, "Sometimes it’s through hospital staff, like the aides. We don’t have formal partnerships with the hospital, but we’ve built relationships over time. We know many of the people who work here, and if a family needs help, they might talk to us."

He emphasized that they strive to offer affordable services, explaining, "There are a lot of individual service providers who charge more, but we try to keep our prices reasonable for the families. Our service, whether it’s dressing the deceased or other arrangements, is meant to be affordable and high-quality."

A Different View of the Hospital

As our conversation continued, the funeral worker offered a piece of advice when he noticed I was there to speak with patient families: "There was just an ambulance that brought someone in, and the family is over there on the bench. But it looks like it’s a very urgent case, so you might want to reconsider approaching them right now."

Conclusion and Reflections

This brief but revealing conversation provided an entirely different view of the hospital—a place not just for healing, but also where the realities of death are quietly handled by professionals in the background. The funeral worker’s calm, matter-of-fact demeanor reflected the sobering nature of his work. Though his role wasn’t part of my original project focused on patient-family interactions, it offered an important perspective on how hospitals must manage both life and death.

His comments also reminded me of the sensitive balance between patient care and privacy, as hospitals often avoid disclosing the number of deaths that occur within their walls. Even so, the presence of funeral workers like him—who interact with families in their most difficult moments—speaks to the delicate ecosystem that supports people through all stages of life, including its end.

This interview sheds light on the less visible aspects of hospital operations and the individuals who play a vital role in providing dignity to the deceased, while maintaining compassion for the grieving families.