Hi Jeffrey,
Thanks for your reply and all those others I have received both via the list
and direct to my e-mail address.
I notice in the text you quoted that...
"Diagnostic records are properly retained in individual patient notes or in
electronic form..."
the bit I am interested in is the OR word...
"Diagnostic records are properly retained in individual patient notes OR in
electronic form..."
Does this mean it can be an either/or situation as I interpret it from your
quote?
In other words if the ward have their 'Diagnostic records', which I assume
covers lab reports, stored in electronic form (in most cases on laboratory
computer) they can dispose of the hard-copy reports (which brings me back to
the original question).
Regards, Billy.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeffrey Davies [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 22 August 2002 13:45
To: Graham, Billy; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Retention of printed lab reports by wards
Dear Billy,
The College guidelines summarise admirably:
"Diagnostic records are properly retained in individual patient notes or in
electronic form, the safe keeping of which is the responsibility of hospital
records departments or recipient general practitioners or private
practitioners, once the pathologist has issued the reports. Where
pathologists have reason to doubt the reliability of systems of patient
record keeping, they should bring this to the attention of those
responsible rather than attempt to rectify it by duplication and local and
prolonged laboratory storage of diagnostic records."
The practice you describe is appalling and should be reported to your
hospital management.
Regards,
Jeff Davies
>>> "Graham, Billy" <[log in to unmask]> 08/21/02 04:52pm >>>
Hi,
Does anyone have information on how long wards must legally keep hard-copy
laboratory reports, if at all, assuming they will always be available
electronically via the lab computer (both active and historical records).
This query came to me from the nursing staff. Currently the ward in question
receives lab reports and the nurses filter out any showing 'abnormal'
results. The medical staff then look up these patient records in the lab
computer and take appropriate action. Following this, all the hard-copy
reports are filed away alphabetically in boxes dating back 7 years - the
reports are NOT stored with the patient record. These hard-copy archives are
taking up a lot of room and much staff time in operation of the filing
system.
I think if the retention of the hard copies is not a legal requirement the
ward would like to file them in the drawer labelled 'bin' rather than waste
time and space filing them as they currently do.
Any advice would be much welcomed.
Best regards, Billy Graham.
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