Record Organization

After reviewing the interview thread I noticed a lot of similarities and differences in how patient files are handled. For example, the majority of medium to large facilities use electronic filing over paper, decreasing the amount of lost information and recordings. The most apparent difference among medium and large facilities is that the vast majority of large facilities use paper record for inpatient purposes and medium facilities are strictly electronic. For the medium facilities files are automatically updated with each visit and entry. For the larger facilities, during inpatient care the patients have paper records used to chart test results, arrhythmia analysis, etc., and are not uploaded into the electronic system until discharge or transfer. Of all of the interview threads I read over the smaller facilities use paper files and all documents are filed in the patient’s main chart right away to reduce the chances of information being misplaced or lost. The standards set in place for handling loose reports and the organization of patient records is mostly different among the small, medium, and large facilities. Base off the interview thread data, the medium and larger facilities have their loose records permanently anchored in their electronic charts, reducing the amount of misplaced documentation and cutting overall costs. The biggest difference among the facilities is the filing methods used for patient records. The most used form of records organization starts chronologically with form numbers, types of reports and or categories. Important information such as blood type, prescribed drugs, medical conditions and other aspects of medical history can be accounted for more quickly and easier to