A recent rule revision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the use of student notes in patient records is “a game changer” that will make medical students more relevant and more integrated in the delivery of patient care, according to Dr. Michael Busha, the medical school’s associate dean for Educational Affairs.
“The more students do that is utilized as part of the permanent patient record and part of operations, the better their education will be in preparing them for residency,” Dr. Busha said. “And the operational usage of student documentation provides a great platform from which faculty can readily teach.”
The updated guidance by CMS took effect in March for medical students nationwide. As a result, students can now create documentation in patient records and those notes can be used for billing purposes.
While the rule revision is significant, Dr. Busha said it is “in no way a stamp or attestation of care being delivered by a student.” Instead, he said the CMS still mandates that all student documentation must be independently validated by a teaching physician.
“It’s not student care,” Dr. Busha said. “It’s faculty oversight of that care and faculty validation of all pieces of student documentation of care.”
Dr. Busha said the rule change will allow for improved teaching by preceptors who will have the ability to review students’ notes in realtime and help them to improve their documentation skills that are relevant to a patient’s care.”
“This allows for better clinic efficiency with a student present and better review of student documentation,” he said. “It’s a win. If you look at the ambulatory environment, one of the things physicians often like the least about their job is documentation. Having students contribute with patient notesis a nice give and take for the time it takes to teach.”
At WMed, usage of the new rule was rolled out officially in July. However, Dr. Busha said the implementation of the rule is voluntary and, currently, it is being used in a few clerkships.
“I think the longer the rule is in effect, the more uptake we will get from faculty on its usage,” Dr. Busha said. “It’s a phenomenal thing for students. It highlights education and allows us to better integrate learners in a meaningful way.
“From a medical school standpoint, one of our greatest challenges is procuring clinical placements for our students and our hope is that this helps serve as a game changer in some of those really challenging placements,” Dr. Busha added.