Documenting in car

Specialties Home Health

Published

Hi all! I am about to start home health soon. I see people documenting in the car, leaning on steering wheel, etc. There must be a more comfortable way, isn't there? Any tips and tricks? I have a SUV and was thinking of turning down 1/2 the back seat and setting my computer on that, like a desk. Does that work? Also how about organizing paperwork and keeping track of mileage....

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Regardless of what is preached by your company, the practice of reality is documentation is done at the office or at home; not in the patient's house or sitting in the car in front of their house.

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I try to get most of my charting done while in the patient's home and then I do the rest of my charting at home. Since I am paid per visit, I like to get all of my visits done back-to-back and then finish up at home. I use google maps to track mileage but our EMR is usually pretty accurate with the mileage.

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Specializes in Hospice + Palliative.
Regardless of what is preached by your company, the practice of reality is documentation is done at the office or at home; not in the patient's house or sitting in the car in front of their house.

I pretty much ALWAYS do at least my narrative note, if not all the documentation, outside the house in my car after a visit.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Listen to what you guys are saying...

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I just jot down some quick notes and then do my charting once I get home. I have a calendar/planner that I track my mileage on. My agency doesn't do anything on paper for the most part. I'm able to set reminders for myself inside the charting software etc. Organization is key!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I would never get my documentation done if I didn't chart in my patients' homes! I can't imagine seeing 5-6 patients every day and then at the end of the day have all that charting to do :eek:

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When I did a home health clinical placement in nursing school, my preceptor did her note while sitting in the car in front of the home. However, when I started working in the field, I found that most of the time I don't spend too much time in my car in any neighborhood. There is an aspect of discomfort when loitering too long. I go in, do my thing (which is usually a shift, but has been a visit), get out, and finish any necessary documentation at my abode.

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