PURGING ACTIVE MEDICAL RECORDS

PURPOSE:

To reduce the number of inactive pages in a Resident's Medical Record within time periods designated by the New Jersey Department of Health and U.S. Veterans Affairs Standards.

DEFINITION:

"Purging" is the removal of pages from a Medical Record that are no longer actively needed by staff in providing care to residents.

PROCEDURE:

The following list of forms may be deleted from active charts after the amount of time specified by each item. Individual charts are labeled indicating the name of the resident; the date pages were deleted from the chart; and the signature and title of the person who purged the Medical Record.

 
 

History and Physical:
Admission H&P and the results of the most recent examination must remain in the chart.

Medical Plan of Care & Recertification:
Initials certification and medical plan of care, and recertification for the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.

Physicians' Orders:
Admission order and all orders for the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.

Physician Progress Notes:
Admission note and all notes for the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.

Dietary:
Initial assessment and all notes for the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.

Activities:
Initial evaluation and all notes for the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.

Nurses Notes:
Initial note and all notes for the last three (3) months must remain in the chart.

Medication & Treatment:
Initial records and records of all medications and Sheets: treatments that have been provided during the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.

Laboratory, Radiologic and Diagnostic Tests: 
Records of all laboratory, radiologic and other diagnostic tests for the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.

Rehabilitation:
Initial evaluation and all notes for the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.

Social Services:
Initial evaluation and all notes for the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.

Transfer Forms:
Records of all transfers to and from the facility that occurred in the last six (6) months must remain in the chart.



MEDICAL RECORDS  - 35-03-012

 

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