What is the consequence of cloning medical records in EHRs?

Cloning medical records in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) refers to the practice of copying and pasting information from previous encounters into the current medical record. While this can save time, it often leads to a uniformity that may misrepresent a patient's actual condition during a specific visit. When providers clone records, they may include outdated or irrelevant information that does not reflect the patient's current health status. This can result in inaccuracies in patient care, such as overlooking changes in symptoms, treatment effectiveness, or new diagnoses.

The potential for misrepresentation is significant because it can detract from the tailored, individualized approach necessary for effective patient care. Cloned records can also undermine the clinical judgment of healthcare providers who rely on these documents to make informed decisions about a patient's treatment plan. Therefore, while there are advantages to using EHRs, the cloning of records can inadvertently lead to negative patient outcomes, which is why this practice is considered problematic in medical auditing.