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Tip: Follow this formula when designing forms

Organizations that are reviewing form design in preparation for EHR implementation should follow these guidelines:

Keep patient demographics, whether on a label or printed, in the same location on every form.
All forms should include revision dates, so your staff can easily identify the most current version when documents have been updated.
Require clinicians to use black or dark blue ink in medical records because scanned red and light-colored inks don't show up well.
Ensure that documents print out in the correct orientation and that all documentation is intact.
Review abbreviations on new and revised forms to ensure that they are on your approved abbreviations list or that there is a key on the form itself. However, in most cases, it's best to write the word out in full.
Know how the form will be reproduced and how people will use it.
Remember that repeated photocopying will decrease the integrity of any bar code on the form, so staff always should use a master or original copy of the form when reproducing it.