We have totally abandoned printing within-hospital lab reports at Burton. It
is possible to print copies on the wards but these are shredded and not
stuck in the notes because the EPR allows access to all results back as far
as 1993.
This is not a legal problem as when the results are archived they become
unchangeable - and before that there is an audit trail for any alterations.
TIM
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*********
Prof. Tim Reynolds,
Clinical Chemistry Department,
Queens Hospital,
Belvedere Rd.,
Burton-on-Trent,
STAFFORDSHIRE,
DE13 0RB,
UK.
tel: 01283 511511 ext. 4035
fax: 01283 593064
email: [log in to unmask]
alternative email for the all too frequent occasions when the NHS email
connection doesn't work:
[log in to unmask]
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-----Original Message-----
From: Graham, Billy [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 21 August 2002 16:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Retention of printed lab reports by wards
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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------ACB discussion List Information--------
This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical
community working in clinical biochemistry.
Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed
via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and
they are responsible for all message content.
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