A Study on Loose Laboratory Reports in A Hospital

일개(K) 병원의 누락 조직검사결과지에 관한 조사연구

Background : The medical record is a compilation of pertinent facts of a patient's life and health history, including past and present illness and treatment. It is written by the health professionals contributing to that patient's care. And the medical record is the permanent, legal document which must contain sufficient information to identify the patient, justify the diagnosis and treatment, and record the results. As such, it must be accurate and complete. So we try to analyze the medical record especially a kind of incomplete record, loose laboratory reports. Methods: During the one-year period(from January to December 1988), a medical record practitioner examine and analyze the record of laboratory reports at K Hospital in Seoul. A total of 320 loose laboratory reports for 3,818 admitted laboratory reports. And a medical record practitioner and a physician review and analyze the influencing factors for the various reasons of clinical and laboratory aspects. Result: The loose percentage by department is the highest in obstetrics(40.4%) but the highest loose rate is in pediatrics(25.0%). The most of omission is occurred in operation room(80.3%) than OPD(19.7%). The change of diagnosis is according to duration of laboratory and more changable in cancer patient. Conclusion : Regular analysis of the documentation in the medical record so it fulfills its purposes of communicating patient care information. So it serves as evidence of the patient's course of illness and treatment for various legal, reimbursement, and peer evaluation review. And it is very important aspect of quality assurance in medical activities.