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Tip: Answers to some FAQs about EMRs
Published May 2008
Emerging technology is raising questions in HIM departments where a transition to EMRs has occurred or is on the horizon. Here are answers to a few of those questions.
Q. What is the recommended retention period for the electronic history of amendments?
A. This time period should be in line with your specific record retention requirements, which are normally regulated by state law.
Q. Should we continue to print documentation that is available in an electronic format?
A. Your organization’s leadership must address this matter. There are interim benefits to printing and filing documents in the chart, but there are also disadvantages. Although the needs of each organization are different, the print-and-file process is very costly and cumbersome to sustain. Also, the attempt to maintain two separate forms of the same documentation can be challenging enough when trying to honor amendment requests. It can easily double the workload. If a paperless system will meet the needs of your organization, then be certain to allocate sufficient training to re-educate the clinical and support staff who use the health record to perform their jobs.
This tip is from The Legal Health Record Companion: A case study approach published by HCPro, Inc.
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