Home Health documentation/corrections obligation

[oh2204]

Hi everyone, I have a question that has come up before in my nursing career in home health. I am an experienced RN that recently resigned from my position as Case Manager/Field RN with a local home health company in December. I returned on two seperate occasions to make corrections with the last being in late January. Lately they have begun contacting me again stating the they have several more corrections that I need to make. My issue is that it has been 4 months since I resigned and I am extremely busy working and taking care of my 1 yr old daughter. Both times that I returned in the past caused me to have to lose a day of work and find a babysitter. I feel that I was fair in going back twice and staying for several hours to fulfill my obligation. But now it is getting ridiculous. They have an absurd process for QA'ing notes. They are first checked by a QA nurse as soon as they are turned in, then they are rechecked once the patient has been discharged. Because of this, I feel as if they will be calling me years from now to return and make corrections. They have threatened to report me to bne for not "fulfilling my nursing obligation." I would like to add that these corrections are minor at best, they have no impact on patient care or reimbursement.

Now finally my question is...how long after changing jobs are we responsible/obligated to keep returning and making corrections?

Are there any rules/laws that protect nurses from these practices from home health agencies? Am I breaking any nursing laws or rules by not returning again? Please help!

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

You submitted documentation that was complete and correct at the time, right?

Are these corrections listed as late entries? Otherwise you, and the agency, could be accused of altering documentation.

I doubt you have any obligation at all, unless you were negligent in your documentation

[salvadordolly]

Wow! Our agency has never called ex-employees to correct their charting. That is crazy. I seriously doubt they could report you to BON because you have fulfiilled your duty. You have done your charting. I would just stop taking their calls.

[LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP]

Agree with Salvadordolly! You've completed your obligation. If they had issue with you, should have been brought up at time of your exit. How long will they keep up with this....1 year from now, 2 years from now, 5 years from now....puhleeeeease!!