RECORD KEEPING IN INTERDISCIPLINARY PRACTICES

Abstract

Health care services today require an extensive amount of interdisciplinary effort and collaboration. Mutual knowledge among the variety of disciplines that interact within health care is essential in the process of promoting a teamwork concept. This study addresses issues that can arise when professionals from diverse disciplines work together in a health care setting. A systematic analysis of literature regarding documentation efforts necessary for client record management in the care team is focused upon, with special attention given to the role of social workers. Four major gaps in record keeping practices were found and highlight the need for an integrated approach to the design and maintenance of standardized and comprehensive patient records, but such incorporation has not yet been practically defined. The hindrances to record keeping practices define the need for establishing an evaluative component in record keeping.