Ediiting or deleting a locked progress note
Answered
Hi! I am wondering if anyone knows how to delete and or edit a locked progress note. I made an error and need to delete it and create a new note. Is this possible?
-
Hi Lisa,
I can definitely provide some clarity here. Once you sign and lock a progress note, you cannot edit or delete it. However, you may append an addendum to any locked note.
You can add an addendum by using the Chart Note feature on a client's Overview page, but this feature will not add onto the original progress note. The chart note would be a separate item on the client's chart. The note can be backed dated in order to see both the original note and the addendum close together on the client Overview page.
For situations where you need to append an addendum to a locked progress note, it's best to follow these easy steps: Adding an addendum to a locked progress note. Ultimately, you’ll be creating a chart note to record the addendum. These chart notes remain in the client's file along with progress notes so if you, or anyone else, ever needs to review the client's file, all the documentation can be appropriately addressed.
-
I agree, there should DEFINITELY be a feature that would allow for deleting a locked note. There could be a requirement that you type an explanation as for why the note has been deleted. Or maybe even a time limit after the note is locked to go in and delete the note? But to have no way to remove an incorrect or mistakenly locked note seems like it could lead to some pretty rough outcomes that could have easily been avoided.
-
I worked on another EMR for 15 years and it had the ability to unlock a note, but it could only be done by the administrator. I agree that there is no reason why the notes can't be unlocked by someone. I'm sure SP has the ability to do it themselves, but don't want us bombarding them with unlock requests. My provider accidentally pasted a note in the wrong patient's chart. What happens if that patient requests a copy of the note? I can't give them a note with another's patient's name in it. Someone at SP needs to address this issue ASAP.
-
I accidentally locked a note for a FUTURE appointment. It seems like an obvious bug that the system will let you do that.
I agree that you should be allowed to unlock a note and that should be acceptable if you are required to provide an explanation AND if the modified note has the new date -- so there is a paper trail. Or, they could let you unlock notes for certain reasons such as: wrong client, session did not occur, session is in the future, etc.
-
Hi all, thank you for your feedback regarding this. We're working on introducing a new feature for SimplePractice that will allow locked Progress Notes to be unlocked in cases where providers need to edit the note or add an addendum. Our engineering team is actively developing this new feature, and we look forward to updating our Community when it's available.
-
Any update regarding this?
Also, does anyone know if notes need to be "locked" for insurance purposes? My supervisor is finding it rather time-consuming to review my notes, unlock them, then communicate to me his edits in another format. It would be much easier for me to simply "save" notes then he can look at charts at his leisure... any advice here would be appreciated. Is there a way for a supervisor to route a note back to me with edits? Thanks.
-
Hi Peter, we are continuing to work with Early Adopters on our Unlock Progress Notes feature and look forward to releasing it soon.
We highly recommend locking your notes, particularly if you take insurance. Locking the note appends a timestamp and your name and credentials, and is equivalent to signing and dating a paper note.
-
Ali, we're glad to hear you're a fan of our new Unlock Progress Notes feature, which was released yesterday. Account Owners and clinicians with Administrative Access can now unlock a note to make any needed edits, and can also grant the ability to unlock notes to other clinical Team Members in the practice. If you have any questions about this new feature of SimplePractice, I'd be happy to help.
-
I have a client's name twice, because I had his email address incorrectly and then corrected it, but now it shows up twice. I sent him intake info twice, but he filled it out once (due to incorrect email from me) and I can't delete one of them. I fear it will delete all info connected with that name. How can I fix it?
-
Hi Pushpa, I'd be happy to help. First, find the client profile that has less information in it (the one with the incorrect email) and go to Edit Details > Delete Client. Then, enter the client's full name. The correct profile will not be deleted when you delete the incorrect profile. Let me know if you have any additional questions about this, or anything else SimplePractice. I'm here to help.
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
33 comments