Here is a perspective on the physician signout (passing on a patient to a colleague at the end of a shift). Some authorities are urging that the signout be made an official part of the electronic medical record.
By summarizing patient care data(signout) into electronic medical record, rich, up-to-date clinical information typically cordoned off in the stand-alone signout note is made available to all providers and services. A centralized, official signout note would enable summary information to flow from other parts of the medical record into the signout note.
As information is important for decision making during cross-coverage, it should probably be in the patient's record, for quick and easy access by all providers.
Speaking of signout....i am signing off for now. I am flying to Argentina later today where I plan to visit family, relax and watch a lot of the Copa America football (soccer) tournament.
I will blog periodically while in the Southern Hemisphere.
