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Safety Checks via Epic or other Technology

By Barbara Roll posted 02-20-2020 04:49 PM

  
​We are currently using paper and pen to document safety checks.  We are looking at moving this to computerized charting.  Reaching out to see who has safety checks computerized, what types of technology​ you use to easily get the safety checks done (i.e. scanning name bands with zebra phone) and if you document what the patient is doing at the time the safety check is being done (i.e. sitting in room, visiting with peers etc.) .  Thank you all for your help

Barbara Roll
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09-14-2022 02:03 PM

Does anyone have any research studies regarding paper vs. electronic rounding they could pass along?

02-25-2020 07:13 PM

Thank you for your replies

02-22-2020 08:28 PM

I have not worked at a site where safety checks were done electronically for various reasons. Sometimes you can have up to 30 patients that the staff or nurse are rounding on so by what means would they get that charted electronically is usually the issue. Epic does not have a format that I'm aware of where this charting can be done. If your site is considering this you can discuss with IT on developing a program that may include a hand-held device to complete the checks electronically.

02-20-2020 08:12 PM

My organization considered moving to electronic documentation for observations (or safety checks) back in 2018. Unfortunately,charting checks (primarily every 15 minute checks) in multiple patient charts was seen as more cumbersome than it was worth in value. Our organization uses Epic, and pretty much everything is charted at the patient and encounter level. I'm not sure if other EHRs provide a unit-level documentation option (ie: chart all checks without having to open and close multiple patient charts) - such an option would have been welcome at the time.
For the time being, we are proceeding to document observations on paper - but the patient label is applied to their rounding sheet and is scanned into the EHR by clerical staff (so it ultimately is retained in their chart). While I would prefer an electronic option, Epic simply didn't offer a feasible solution back in 2018. Perhaps they do now, or will sometime in the near future.
We have found our process to have positive outcomes - patient safety has been assured and the records have been retained electronically (which is helpful when conducting Process Reviews, RCAs, etc...).
Hope this helps!