Motivation for documentation

The quality improvement plan relies on controlling quality of care through improving the process or system as a whole. Your ongoing data collection is paramount to the process of system-wide improvement and performance, enhancement of financial performance, operational performance and overall service performance and satisfaction. The threat of litigation and having to defend yourself from a claim of wrongdoing still looms every time your wheels turn. Your runsheet must serve and protect you. Look at the NFPA 1710 standard, which was enacted to serve and protect firefighters. This standard was enacted with their personal safety and well-being as the principle behind staffing requirements. At what stage of draft do you suppose the NFPA 1710 standard would be today if the relative data were collected sporadically or were not tracked for each service-related death? It may have taken many more service-related deaths to effect change for a system-wide improvement in operational performance. Every call merits documentation and data collection. Your data are catalysts for change.