EFM strips and storage

All OB records, including EFM strips, must be stored for a minimum of 18 (or perhaps 21?) years.

We stopped printing strips a couple of years ago as a cost saving method. We only use them in down time. Everything gets stored electronically, so that's our record. If someone still does print for some reason, they just throw it in the HIPAA bin when they're done.

We save the physical strips. I am not sure for how long, but I know they are saved for legal purposes, so my guess would be 18-21 years (I have no clue where they store all those strips though!). We used to throw them away, because our EFM is saved electronically with the EMR, but we had a lawsuit where the nurse claimed she did an intervention and it was not charted but she stated she wrote it on the strip (which was thrown away). Ever since then we save all strips (even triage pts who aren't admitted), put them in an envelope with a patient sticker, and into a bin. Every morning medical records people come and collect them. I don't know how admissible it would be in court if they presented a strip with a scribbled down "L, O2", but it wasn't charted anywhere that I turned her on her left side and applied oxygen, so I make sure to go over my strips and chart everything I jotted down regardless.

we had a lawsuit where the nurse claimed she did an intervention and it was not charted but she stated she wrote it on the strip (which was thrown away). Ever since then we save all strips (even triage pts who aren't admitted), put them in an envelope with a patient sticker, and into a bin.

The alternative to that silly intervention is to just make a policy not to write anything on the strip. When I worked at a place that did paper charting, we charted on the strip all the time. Every place I've worked that has had EFM did not allow charting on the strip.

The alternative to that silly intervention is to just make a policy not to write anything on the strip. When I worked at a place that did paper charting, we charted on the strip all the time. Every place I've worked that has had EFM did not allow charting on the strip.

I never depend on the strip to be my legal documentation, but I would cry if they didn't allow me to write on it at all. It's so convenient to just turn around and write "R, O2, Fluids open, Dr. SoandSo in room, pit off, etc" When I am dealing with a crap strip. Then I can look back when everything is settled and chart the exact time I did everything.

If your facility stores paper strips be aware that they need to be stored in a climate controlled place. The paper is heat sensitive and if the temp gets too high they will be black from beginning to end. I knew a hospital that lost years of records that way.

Our strips are stored electronically, but they are also printed in the room at bedside in the event that we should experience unplanned downtime. The electronic strips are THE official record, no exceptions. Charting is not permitted on paper strips as all our electronic strips are easily accessible at bedside for charting purposes. This saves us from having to preserve two forms of the same record and from having two potential locations for documentation (as was mentioned in a PP).

Efm strips are electronically archived. We do no longer print strips. In the event the computers crash strips will be copied and added to the medical record.

Our strips are also entirely electronically charted and stored. We also have our computers directly at the bedside for easy access. The only time we do paper strips is if there is down time.