Restricting Nurse Access to Electronic Records

[LilacRN]

I am looking for information on the restriciton of access to electronic medical records for nursing. Our hospital is in the process of implementing the Meditech system. Right now the only part the nurses use is OE (Order Entry) and the EMR (Electronic Medical Record). However, we are building the PCS (Patient Care System) which is nursing documentation.

Currently all nurses are "restricted by location". Meaning that they can only view the medical records of the patients assigned to the unit they are on. When they are signed on to a PC, the PC has already been assigned a location so It knows where the nurse is.

This has caused some problems, because if you are getting a transfer, you cannot go into the record until that patient is assigned to your unit. So you can't reveiw anything before they get there (even if you have some downtime). Also, for outpatients that do not get assigned a room number, no nurse has access to any of the records. We do have a function that allows us to open up some temporary access, but in reality it does not get used as it should.

Is anyone working with the Meditech system that is also "Restricted by location" and does it affect your ability to obtain information about patients.

Another issue is doing closed chart audits, managers handling complaints, reviewing staff documentation etc.....

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[nurse_nan]

Have to say, ditto, Meditech is a poor system. I worked in a hospital during the build and implementation. The build was nightmarish. The support left something to be desired. The finished product was not user friendly - took a lot of time to chart everything correctly. Too many screens. Problems with down times.

And yes, God forbid you should actually read up on an expected transfer before it gets to your unit.

[Brownms46]

Can you really believe how long it takes to give a patient their medication?? .

Wow, I thought I was the only one who thought this!

[lovetoride]

We use meditech, have for a very long time.

We are in the process of initiating POM in some areas now.

We also have limited access on the floors. Some have the access if the are a charge nurse.

We have to document on the pt before they leave,or go to the unit they went to to document at transfer or at the end of the shift.

It is a pita. Everyone should have access to all areas that they could transfer their pt to or from.

We can access our pt if they are in the OR since they are not acutally inpt there, not a true transfer. So if someone is still in the OR when I'm doing my notes i can still write them.

If someone is transfered you could temporarly transfer them back in the computer temporarily to do your notes and then transfer them back, just be sure to let the new unit know :)