Health Information Management

May we use standing orders for drugs and biologicals?

HIM Connection, November 11, 2008

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A: CMS, in a letter to state survey agency directors dated October 24, revised interpretive guidelines clarifying that hospitals may use standing orders and written protocols for drugs or biologicals. CMS also clarified that the practitioner who is responsible for a patient’s care should write and sign standing orders in that patient’s chart. However, the timing of the documentation should not be a barrier to effective emergency response, timely and necessary care, or other patient safety advances. CMS states that it expects practitioners to enter the standing order into the order entry section of a patient’s medical record as soon as possible after implementation of the order (much like a verbal order would be entered), and that the patient’s physician must authenticate the order. To view the CMS letter, click here.



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