Implementation and Assessment of a Policy on Physicians' Cosignatures
Abstract
This paper describes an example of how the principles embodied in guidelines become policy. We believe our policy is quite consistent with the APA guidelines and that our successful experience in implementing this policy confirms the usefulness of the APA guidelines for other facilities in developing policy, with additions or modifications reflecting local structures.
We believe that the physician's cosignature is a visible and tangible mechanism through which psychiatrists may effectively define their relationship with other clinical and administrative partners. The successful resolution of this issue is relevant to a broader range of quality-of-care issues, including medical records documentation and the financial health of mental health agencies. The signature process can be a valuable part of the larger system of checks and balances ensuring clinical quality.
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