I charted that he died!

[mgababyko]

We do computerized charting and my boss called my attention about an entry I made that said the patient DIED. I charted on the wrong patient! I could not correct it because it happened 2 weeks ago. We can only edit within 24 hours. I know the entry would be permanent on the patient's record. What can I do about it? I realized one factor was that I had 2 pt's w/ the same first name.

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

We cannot change the original charting but we can add a late entry to explain an entry that was an error.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

My question is....if the patient sues...and you wrote he died.....would he still get any money? Isn't kind of frivolous to have dead people suing you?

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

My question is....if the patient sues...and you wrote he died.....would he still get any money? Isn't kind of frivolous to have dead people suing you?

It would be obvious through a chart review that there was an error in charting if the person suing wasn't the one who died.

Families of dead people sue all the time. It's not frivolous if an error was made.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

My question is....if the patient sues...and you wrote he died.....would he still get any money? Isn't kind of frivolous to have dead people suing you?

Not being a legally inclined in any way, just guessing here:

I think you have to prove that some harm was caused. In this case, if someone erroneously checked the wrong box, it'd be one thing. But if the wrong box was checked and then someone else came along and actually followed the procedure for a deceased patient based on that charting, then they might have a case for harm.

I know if I woke up to a couple of nurses shrouding me, I'd probably be a tad upset, but if I woke up in the autopsy room, I might have to sue, just to make a point.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

What did you manager say. The manager should have guided you as to what to do next rather than merely point out your mistake.

Charting errors are common. Talk to your Risk Management Dept. they should hopefully be able to tell you what to do next.

[ASSEDO]

The problem I see is if the patient is returns to the hospital and the computer system states this patient is un-dead, it will be a insurance nightmare..

Computer errors can be fixed, but don't worry we all make them...

On Friday, our physican wrote that a 91 year old was at end of life, unresponsive. I went into the room to speak with his family, only to have him as me for a "drink of water" . Dr. may have made a charting error, the patient could have been asleep, but he sure did have a great come-back.

Good luck..

[Sunflowerinsc, ADN, RN]

I had one of my coworkers, an experienced nurse of 25+ years, chart all day on 1 patient as if it was another. She charted all kinds of crazy stuff!!! She had to chart a ton of crossouts, explanations, and addendums to the charting she had done (including recharting everything into the proper charts). It is funny in retrospect, and yea it was a permanent part of the record, but at the same time who the heck really looks at that stuff anyways? It goes down to the deep dungeon of medical records...it's not like the patient scrapbooks it or something

You know that the chart is a legal record and it can be pulled out of that "deep dungeon of medical records" in a flash! And a lawyer will pull out every word you have written ,word for word and you may have to explain to them what you wrote word for word. Also the DON ,state board and who knows who else. I think each system of charting ,computer or paper has a way to make corrections that covers you. It is pretty easy to chart on the wrong pt and chart when you are busy but it has to be fixed .