Question:
- Identify three examples of short-term impacts of duplicate medical records
- Address long-term impacts of duplicate medical records.
- Describe six key data for patient verification.
- Summarize a Joint Commission standard for patient identification.
Duplicate medical records occur periodically even when processes are carefully followed. After reading the article, Seeing Double: The Financial and Patient Safety Impacts of Duplicate Medical Records (Links to an external site.), please respond to the following points:
- Identify three examples of short-term impacts of duplicate medical records
- Address long-term impacts of duplicate medical records.
- Describe six key data for patient verification.
- Summarize a Joint Commission standard for patient identification.
Your initial post should be a minimum of 250 words and address each of the required questions. Cite and reference at least one scholarly source that is not listed as a required or recommended resource in the course.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: The issue of duplicate medical records is a major concern in the healthcare industry. Duplicate records can have significant short-term and long-term impacts on the quality of care provided to patients. In this post, we will discuss the short-term and long-term impacts of duplicate medical records, the key data required for patient verification, and a Joint Commission standard for patient identification.
Short-term Impacts of Duplicate Medical Records
1. Increased Risk of Medical Errors: Duplicate medical records can result in errors such as incorrect diagnoses and treatments due to the collection of incorrect or incomplete patient data.
2. Miscommunication and Delays: Duplicate records can lead to miscommunication and delays in providing care, as healthcare professionals may be unsure which record to follow, leading to confusion and wasted time.
3. Patient Safety Risks: Duplicate medical records can also increase the risk of medication errors and other adverse events, putting patient safety at risk.
Long-term Impacts of Duplicate Medical Records
1. Reduced Quality of Care: Duplicate medical records can lead to decreased quality of care over time, as healthcare professionals rely on incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate information.
2. Increased Costs: Duplicate records can lead to increased costs and waste, as healthcare providers may duplicate tests, procedures, or treatments due to a lack of information.
3. Legal Liability: Duplicate medical records can result in legal liability for healthcare providers if errors or adverse events occur due to inadequate or inaccurate information.
Key Data for Patient Verification
1. Full Name
2. Date of Birth
3. Social Security Number
4. Address
5. Phone Number
6. Medical Record Number
Joint Commission Standard for Patient Identification
According to the Joint Commission, the following standard must be met for patient identification: “Use at least two patient identifiers when providing care, treatment, and services, such as name and date of birth. This is done to avoid inadvertently providing care, treatment, and services to the wrong patient”. This standard requires healthcare providers to verify patient identity using at least two identifiers to prevent errors and ensure patient safety.
Conclusion: Duplicate medical records have significant short-term and long-term impacts on healthcare. It is essential to verify patient identity using at least two identifiers and to maintain accurate and up-to-date medical records to provide quality care to patients.
