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Doctors taught the art of writing clearer notes.
By Oliver Wright Health Correspondent.
501 words
9 June 2003
The Times
1
English
(c) 2003 Times Newspapers Ltd.
Hospitals are spending hundreds of thousands of pounds a year teaching their doctors and nurses how to write better patient notes.
Trainees taking a course on writing have been asked to provide examples of their work. One case read: "6.30am sleeping peacefully, 8.40am dead."
In another incident a member of staff was working in an accident and emergency department - where the abbreviation DOA meant "Dead on Arrival" - was transferred to a ward. He told a patient's relative: "I'm terribly sorry but your mother was dead on arrival." DOA meant "Date of Admission" on the ward notes.
Patients may also be infuriated by notes. A GP wrote "She's Mad!" on one set, with a cartoon drawing, while a warehouse worker was admitted to hospital with the note "works in a whorehouse".
A patient who saw her notes was so indignant at being called a "son of a bitch" that she complained. What she saw was "SoB", "shortness of breath".
Concerned by litigation for medical negligence, which last year cost the NHS ?392 million, nearly 100 NHS trusts are providing detailed training to their staff on note-taking that will stand up in court.
By Oliver Wright Health Correspondent.
501 words
9 June 2003
The Times
1
English
(c) 2003 Times Newspapers Ltd.
Hospitals are spending hundreds of thousands of pounds a year teaching their doctors and nurses how to write better patient notes.
Trainees taking a course on writing have been asked to provide examples of their work. One case read: "6.30am sleeping peacefully, 8.40am dead."
In another incident a member of staff was working in an accident and emergency department - where the abbreviation DOA meant "Dead on Arrival" - was transferred to a ward. He told a patient's relative: "I'm terribly sorry but your mother was dead on arrival." DOA meant "Date of Admission" on the ward notes.
Patients may also be infuriated by notes. A GP wrote "She's Mad!" on one set, with a cartoon drawing, while a warehouse worker was admitted to hospital with the note "works in a whorehouse".
A patient who saw her notes was so indignant at being called a "son of a bitch" that she complained. What she saw was "SoB", "shortness of breath".
Concerned by litigation for medical negligence, which last year cost the NHS ?392 million, nearly 100 NHS trusts are providing detailed training to their staff on note-taking that will stand up in court.
