Filing
Filing (Medical)
Filing (pronunciation: /ˈfaɪlɪŋ/) is a term used in the medical field to refer to the process of systematically organizing and storing patient records and other important medical documents.
Etymology
The term "filing" originates from the English word "file", which is derived from the Latin word "filum" meaning "thread". This is in reference to the early practice of threading documents onto a wire or string for organization and storage.
Related Terms
- Medical Record: A detailed document containing a patient's medical history and treatments.
- Electronic Health Record (EHR): A digital version of a patient's paper chart.
- Health Information Management (HIM): The practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care.
- Document Management System (DMS): A system used to track, manage and store documents and reduce paper.
Process
Filing in a medical context involves the systematic arrangement of medical records, either physically or electronically. The process ensures that the medical records are easily accessible when needed. This is crucial in healthcare as it allows for efficient patient care and is also necessary for legal reasons.
The filing process involves several steps:
- Patient Identification: Each medical record must be clearly associated with the patient it belongs to.
- Record Creation: A medical record is created every time a patient receives medical care.
- Record Maintenance: The medical record must be updated each time the patient receives medical care.
- Record Retention: Medical records must be kept for a certain period of time, which varies depending on the jurisdiction.
- Record Destruction: After the retention period, medical records may be destroyed in a manner that maintains patient confidentiality.
Importance
Filing is an essential part of Health Information Management (HIM). Proper filing ensures that patient records are always up-to-date and accessible, which is crucial for providing quality patient care. It also ensures that the healthcare provider is in compliance with laws and regulations regarding medical record keeping.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Filing
- Wikipedia's article - Filing
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