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Advantages of keeping good clinical records and the disadvantages of poor clinical records

Good clinical recordsPoor clinical records
Aid the sharing of relevant information and multidisciplinary team communicationMisinform healthcare professionals and patients
Aid coordination of careIncrease medico-legal risks
Aid continuity of careLead to unnecessary repetition of tests or other investigations
Aid informed decision making for patient managementProlong hospital admission
Improve availability of data for risk assessmentJeopardise patient care
Improve availability of data for route cause analysis in the investigation of serious incidentsLead to serious incidents
Improve audit capabilities
Provide informative evidence in a court of law
Aid targeting of diagnostics and treatment plans without unnecessary repetition
Improve time management