What is the purpose/need for a same day surgery register?

[Maddie's mommy]

I recently started working at an ASC and my supervisor has set me the task of finding out if this log is necessary. After each procedure, we log it in a big book called Same Day surgery Register. Obviously the information we copy into this book is in the chart for our center and the chart for the physicians office. So what we are trying to find out is does anyone else do this and if so do you know the reason why? Is there some law/code in place that we are required to keep this book or is it just a throw back to pre-computer days and no longer needed? Any help or info that anyone has would be great! Thank you!

[RitaRN27]

Im not so sure why thats being done, Ive been working at a ASC for over 3 years. We dont really document it that way. Doesnt hurt to ask your supervisor.

[Maddie's mommy]

Unfortunately my supervisor doesn't know. She wants to do away with it but wants to make sure it's not required before we do. No one in the center knows why we do it. They've just been doing it because it's always been done.

[pfchang]

I would discuss the issue with your Medical Records, Risk Management and Financial people. Coding, staffing, etc, may be involved but it sounds like it may be unnecessary duplication.

[Ellekat2]

I questioned this practice in our Outpatient Services (a combo of outpatient surgery, scheduled outpatients and unscheduled patients from a walk-in clinic). I was told that even though it information is in the computer system, it is a regulation in our state. I think it's time for a change, myself. I'm in a tiny facility and we have at least three of these registers that simply duplicate the information that admissions obtains when the patient registers for services in Outpatient Services alone and one in the ED. I'm assuming that lab and radiology also have these registers, and possibly OT, PT and OB.

[toomuchbaloney]

If you have an electronic record system you will likely be able to dispense of this hand written log. There is nothing in that log that cannot be obtained from your software.