Patient_Self_Determination_Act

Checkpoint: Patient Self-Determination Act HCA/210 Checkpoint: Patient Self-Determination Act The Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990 required the patients to be informed that they have the right to make advance health decisions, called an advance directive. They must also be informed about the state laws that have an impact on their legal choices when making health care decisions. The directives are a “DNR”, which is a Do Not Resuscitate Order, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, Health Care Proxy, Living will, and an Organ or Tissue Donation. The Patient Self-Determination Act allowed patient to take control of their health care delivery. This act has affected the procedures for entering patient information into medical records. The charting of information must be checked, in order to confirm that all forms are included in the medical file, and checked for accuracy. When creating a patient’s medical file it will need to be checked to make sure the information entered is accurate, and complete. Medical records have to be labeled clearly, with the directives in the front of the record, so that the patient’s wishes and rights are enforced, and all laws are followed. The Patient Self-Determination Act has affect the protocol in which health care is delivered. If a patient has a directive for a Do Not Resuscitate, the medical staff has to be aware, so that they follow the law. This law has ensured that doctors and nurses providing the patients treatment are aware of the patient and their wishes. This act has given the patient control over the course of treatment that they will receive, and lets them decide who will make the decisions concerning the health, if they are unable to. This piece of legislation has added to the way medical records enter medical information, increased the amount of paperwork, and changed the way medical records are filed, and computer systems. I believe that it has made the health care delivery method more personal. Reference Green, M. A., & Bowie, M. J. (2005). Essentials of health information management: Principles and practices. Clifton Park, NJ: Thomson.