Reducing errors by increasing legibility

Russell, N Van Gelder

doi:10.1136/ewjm.173.3.163

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 3 publications

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“…The originator may understand what has been written, but difficulties can arise when other parties are involved. Only a few studies, however, have been reported on the legibility of medical documents and these largely about prescriptions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] . We therefore decided to examine the legibility of case histories written on admission of patients to our hospital.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illegible Handwriting in Medical Records

et al. 2002

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SUMMARYIn clinical records many items are handwritten and difficult to read. We examined clinical histories in a representative sample of case notes from a Spanish general hospital. Two independent observers assigned legibility scores, and a third adjudicated in case of disagreement. Defects of legibility such that the whole was unclear were present in 18 (15%) of 117 reports, and were particularly frequent in records from surgical departments.Through poor handwriting, much information in medical records is inaccessible to auditors, to researchers, and to other clinicians involved in the patient's care. If clinicians cannot be persuaded to write legibly, the solution must be an accelerated switch to computer-based systems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illegible Handwriting in Medical Records

et al. 2002

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Illegible handwriting in medical records

Rodríguez-Vera

Marín

Sánchez

et al. 2002

JRSM

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In clinical records many items are handwritten and difficult to read. We examined clinical histories in a representative sample of case notes from a Spanish general hospital. Two independent observers assigned legibility scores, and a third adjudicated in case of disagreement. Defects of legibility such that the whole was unclear were present in 18 (15%) of 117 reports, and were particularly frequent in records from surgical departments. Through poor handwriting, much information in medical records is inaccessible to auditors, to researchers, and to other clinicians involved in the patient's care. If clinicians cannot be persuaded to write legibly, the solution must be an accelerated switch to computer-based systems.

show abstract

Reducing errors by increasing legibility

Cited by 2 publications

References 3 publications

Illegible Handwriting in Medical Records

Illegible Handwriting in Medical Records

Illegible handwriting in medical records

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