kayleeevans907
Networker
Hello,
I am running into a problem with some physicians attaching an electronic signature to patient's records that reads as "Dr. X on behalf of DEPARTMENT NAME". This seems problematic to me and fellow coders as they are signing on behalf of an entire entity/department instead of just for themselves as the rendering physician.
We know what causes this and there's a simple process that the physicians could do to avoid this within our EHR but they refuse citing that it isn't part of their work-flow. This then ignites a new problem of them disliking us sending back records for signature corrections and asking us to assign a nurse/admin/etc. to fix their signatures or to find another way to fix it that doesn't involve them.
I have another meeting tomorrow about this and am trying to gather as much documentation as I can about why someone else cannot alter their signature for them and why it is incorrect to sign on behalf of an entire clinic department or entity to hopefully put this issue to rest. I already found a fact sheet from CMS that explains a little on why someone else can't sign for you but am having a hard time finding resources on a signature needing to be specific to a provider only and not a group/department/entity. Does anyone know of good resources for this?
Thank you!
I am running into a problem with some physicians attaching an electronic signature to patient's records that reads as "Dr. X on behalf of DEPARTMENT NAME". This seems problematic to me and fellow coders as they are signing on behalf of an entire entity/department instead of just for themselves as the rendering physician.
We know what causes this and there's a simple process that the physicians could do to avoid this within our EHR but they refuse citing that it isn't part of their work-flow. This then ignites a new problem of them disliking us sending back records for signature corrections and asking us to assign a nurse/admin/etc. to fix their signatures or to find another way to fix it that doesn't involve them.
I have another meeting tomorrow about this and am trying to gather as much documentation as I can about why someone else cannot alter their signature for them and why it is incorrect to sign on behalf of an entire clinic department or entity to hopefully put this issue to rest. I already found a fact sheet from CMS that explains a little on why someone else can't sign for you but am having a hard time finding resources on a signature needing to be specific to a provider only and not a group/department/entity. Does anyone know of good resources for this?
Thank you!
