Handwritting and charting

I work at a hospital and our charting is half electronic, half paper. Our assessments, drug administration, etc is all charted via computer. However, we still write telephone orders and fill out protocols and fax them down to pharmacy. I guess in that case you'd need legible handwriting so the pharmacist can read what you wrote to profile it into the patient's ordered meds.

Even though we're becoming more and more EHR-based, legible handwriting will always be important because of the impact on patient safety. I know of one physician who was sanctioned by CMS due to persistent illegibility of his orders. Corrective action included the use of a scribe (that HE had to pay for) to ensure that his orders were readable - LOL.

My 'relaxed' handwriting is terrible. So, I have to slow down and make an effort whenever I am writing something related to patient care or other important documentation. If I can do it, so can you!