As the primary point of contact for patients, nurses have a great deal of responsibility when it comes to documenting patient care. Nursing documentation is important for both practical and legal reasons.
Improper documentation can open up an employer to liability and malpractice lawsuits, while proper nursing documentation helps prevent medical errors and promotes the delivery of high-quality patient care. Nursing Documentation TipsThe following tips, recommendations, and best practices can ensure your documentation is as precise and useful as possible. Be Accurate. Avoid Late Entries. Prioritize Legibility. Use the Right Tools. Follow Policy on Abbreviations. Document Physician Consultations. Chart the Symptom and the Treatment. Avoid Opinions and Hearsay. Common Nursing Documentation ErrorsCommon errors to avoid in nursing documentation include the following. Medication or Allergy Omission. Blank Items on a Chart. Unclear Orders. Improving Your Nursing SkillsNursing documentation is critical to effective communication within a patient care team. Develop the communication skills you need with an RN to BSN online from Rivier University. Students learn in a convenient and flexible online environment that accommodates their work and personal schedules. Medical records form an important part of the management of a patient. It is important for doctors and medical entities to properly maintain the medical records of patients to analyze the treatment results, plan an appropriate treatment protocol, and avoid any legal consequences. Serious errors in medical records can lead to a breach in the duty of care to the patient, serious injuries, or some other form of negligence. Medical malpractice/negligence attorneys can utilize professional medical review solutions to review the injured patient’s medical chart and collect the medical evidence necessary to develop the case. Medical records may include a variety of documentation such as the patient’s history, clinical findings, diagnostic test results, treatment plans, preoperative care, operation notes, post operative care, patient’s progress notes and medications used. Online patient portals enable patients and caregivers to access their health information. Patients may have the right to access certain records such as discharge summary, referral notes, and death summary in case of natural death. However, certain records may be issued only after the patient or authorized assistant fulfills the due requirements as fixed by the hospital and some records cannot be given to patients without the direction of the Court. Common Medical Documentation Errors
Record Documentation Errors Are Common According to a report from Becker Hospital Review, about 70 percent of patient records have wrong information. While some errors don’t affect health outcomes, other can be dangerous or even fatal. A shocking report by Johns Hopkins study cited by CNBC found more than 250,000 people in the U.S. die every year from medical mistakes. Another study published in Pub Med highlights that of the 22,889 surveyed patients who read their own records, 4830 (25%) found mistakes. Almost 10% were classified as very serious, 42.3% as serious, and 32.4% as somewhat serious. The most common type of error involved a current or previous diagnosis, wrong medical histories, errors describing medications or allergies, records listing informed consent or counseling discussions that patients said did not occur. Improper documentation can –
Documentary evidence is crucial in case of a medical negligence. Insurers also require proper records to approve patient claims or medical expenses. Breach of confidentiality of the records also may lead to the patient claiming negligence against the hospital or the doctor. Tips to Prevent Documentation Errors
Reliable medical review companies follow a comprehensive record review process when assisting lawyers and insurers in identifying the medical records relevant to the claim, any complications and adverse events in the medical course, and any missing medical records. Disclaimer: The content in the above blog is sourced from reliable internet resources and is meant for informative purposes only. For a professional opinion on the same, please consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney. |