9. Weak vs. strong documentation
Weak — does not survive | Why it fails | Strong — defensible |
|---|---|---|
“Resident had a fall. MD aware.” | No injury survey, no neuro checks, no notification detail, no root cause or plan change. | The unwitnessed-fall model note in §4: injury survey, protocol neuro checks, provider and representative notification with times, orders, new interventions, coding, and a root-cause review. |
“Fall-risk precautions in place.” | Generic; does not show which individualized interventions or that they were verified. | “Bed/chair alarm functioning, non-skid footwear on, call light in reach, scheduled toileting followed, bed low/locked — verified this shift.” |
“Neuro checks WNL.” | No values, no schedule, no comparison — a covering nurse can’t continue them. | “Neuro checks q15min ×4 then q1h per protocol: PERRL, A&O×3, strength 5/5 symmetric, no new deficit; next check 04:20.” |