Virginia Law

A. The hospice program shall maintain an organized medical record system according to accepted standards of practice. Written policies and procedures shall specify retention, reproduction, access, storage, content, and completion of the record.

B. Medical record information shall be safeguarded against loss or unauthorized use.

C. Medical records shall be confidential. Only authorized personnel shall have access as specified in state and federal law.

D. Provisions shall be made for the safe storage of the original record and for accurate and legible reproductions of the original.

E. Policies shall specify arrangements for retention and protection of records if the hospice program discontinues operation and shall provide for notification to the OLC and the patient of the location of the records.

F. An accurate and complete medical record shall be maintained for each patient receiving services and shall include, but shall not be limited to:

1. Patient identifying information;

2. Identification of the attending physician;

3. Admitting information, including a patient history;

4. A psychosocial and spiritual assessment, including information regarding composition of the household, safety issues in the physical environment, coping skills of the family and the patient, and identification of the individuals to be instructed in the care of the patient;

5. Physical assessment;

6. Documentation and results of all medical tests ordered by the physician or other health care professionals and performed by the hospice program's staff;

7. Physician's orders;

8. The plan of care including, but not limited to, the type and frequency of each service to be delivered by hospice program or contract service personnel and appropriate assessment and management of pain;

9. Medication sheets that include the name, dosage, frequency of administration, route of administration, date started, changed or discontinued for each medication, and possible side effects;

10. Copies of all summary reports sent to the attending physician;

11. Documentation of patient rights review;

12. Services provided, including any volunteer services; and

13. A discharge summary that includes continuing symptom management needs.

G. Signed and dated progress notes by each individual delivering service shall be written on the day the service is delivered and incorporated in the medical record within seven working days.

H. All services provided to the patient by the hospice program shall be documented in the patient's medical record.

I. Entries in the medical record shall be current, legible, dated and authenticated by the person making the entry. Errors shall be corrected by striking through and initialing.

J. Verbal orders shall be documented within 24 hours in the medical record by the health care professional receiving the order and shall be countersigned by the health professional initiating the order according to the procedures of the hospice program.

K. Originals or reproductions of individual patient medical records shall be maintained in their entirety for a minimum of five years following discharge or date of last contact unless otherwise specified by state or federal requirements. Records of minors shall be kept for at least five years after the minor reaches 18 years of age.