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Download the infographic as PDF Make sure all documentation is complete, accurate and up-to-date. Botched documentation practices can be used against a nurse in a malpractice lawsuit. Here are some good tips to follow when mapping: When it comes to computer-aided documentation, optimizing the UX design of medical devices also plays a critical role. The common function is supposed to be efficiency in obtaining documents, but a well-designed computerized documentation system promises document security while improving usability. Legally, records and documentation are excellent ways to protect health care professionals and nurses. This is because a proper record helps protect the health care provider when legal defense is needed. Not to mention, it provides practical evidence and shows professionalism. If you want to know more about documentation of care, we have it all in this article! For facilities that still use a paper-based documentation system, sloppy handwriting or inaccurate use of acronyms can lead to confusion and communication issues regarding documentation, which can negatively impact the health of the patient or resident. If the caregiver cannot read the care instructions that someone else has written, the patient`s or resident`s health could be at risk. As mentioned in the introduction, proper documentation is essential to maintain patient records while legally protecting caregivers.

However, there are other purposes of documentation in nursing, such as; It`s easy to forget that residents` medical records are legally binding documents. For this reason, nursing home staff will benefit from documentation processing such as pre-trial evidence collection. Alan Horowitz, a former litigator for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid and other health organizations, offered advice on how to think like a jury when documenting resident information. Documentation of care is essential for good clinical communication. Appropriate documentation accurately reflects nursing judgments, changes in clinical status, care and relevant patient information to assist the multidisciplinary team in providing excellent care. Documentation serves as proof of care and is an important prerequisite in professional and medical law of nursing practice. Maintenance documentation is not to be taken lightly. You need to make sure your employees get everything, articulate it clearly and accurately, and remain objective.

Otherwise, your facility may not comply with federal and state laws, resulting in gaps. Penalties for deficiencies vary, but sanctions and even forced closure of your establishment are possible. In some extreme cases – such as falsifying medical records by claiming drugs were administered when they were not administered – responsible parties can be sued by federal prosecutors for violating the False Claims Act. By following the guidelines above, you can better avoid errors in your documentation. Effective nursing documentation is about ensuring transparent clinical communication. Effective documentation provides information on the assessment of care, including; Provide care, changes in patient clinical status and patient data to provide quality patient care. The documentation process is also influenced by the system, so always choose the best company to develop mobile apps for healthcare in the US. Additional tasks can be added to the Nurse Hub as a reminder.

All patient documentation can be entered into flowcharts (observations, water balance, LDA assessment) throughout the shift. Clinical information not captured in flowcharts and changes to the treatment plan is documented as a real-time progress note. In addition to familiarity with professional standards and setup guidelines regarding the handling of certain presentations, another cardinal rule of documentation is to fully follow the care process. The process of care requires assessment, diagnosis (care), planning, implementation, and evaluation.2 This process should be reflected in documenting interactions with the patient during care. Many institutions have simplified this critical thinking process with acronyms such as PIE (Problem Intervention Evaluation), which provide a streamlined process for reminding the nurse what needs to be documented according to Nursing Council guidelines. These systems provide the standard documentation form that is shared with the healthcare team. However, if not used properly, critical thinking processes are reduced and they might even start relying on forms of circumvention. In addition, errors may also occur. So, if you want to write the care documentation correctly with the EHR, you can follow the tips below. Taking shortcuts is one of the things not to do for Medcom`s care documentation. Instead of copying and pasting from medical records, take the time to write notes every time. This ensures that no outdated information is recorded and provides an additional checkpoint for nurses to take note of changes in residents` care needs.

Although nurses are trained in other areas of care, they never formally learn to track patient and resident information. “Understanding the documentation is poor because no one has ever taught nurses how to document,” Lobo said. Nikki Campos is the Director of Nursing, Clinical Administration at Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston, Texas. Medical software companies are constantly updating electronic health records and integrating them with other systems. The real challenge is to train employees in the use of software for seniors` residences or software systems for assisted living. This can be costly, especially with the high turnover rates of long-term care caregivers. Fortunately, training on the care plan software has recently become available online for free. The more informed and experienced a caregiver is about their long-term care software, the better they will use their long-term care EHR. One study found that nurses with more than one year of experience entered more than twice as many nursing records during their working hours as less experienced nurses. Nursing boards are state regulatory bodies whose mission is to “protect and promote the welfare of persons by ensuring that any person licensed as a nurse in the state is qualified to practice safely.” 2 In the nursing regulations, nurses can find information on licensing, practice and disciplinary procedures and seek clarification of grey areas by means of statements. Nurses are required to comply with nursing practice legislation and the rules of the Nursing Committee, which have the force of law, and to practise their knowledge and skills, and to intervene or advocate on behalf of patients at all times, in accordance with the Professional Nursing Standards.2 Part of this duty to the patient is to: Ensure complete and accurate reporting and documentation.2 Nursing notes are designed to provide data and information on the patient`s progress in developing expected outcomes. It contains information about the patient`s problems as well as nursing procedures.

In the next section, we share guidelines and factors to consider when writing care notes for computerized reports, such as; EHR management systems have become extremely important for healthcare facilities with the digitization of records.