What should outpatient records personnel do with medical paperwork missing the required minimum identification documentation?

Returning documents to the originating clinic for proper completion ensures that all medical paperwork meets the necessary standards for identification documentation. This action is vital for maintaining accurate, reliable, and complete medical records. Proper identification is crucial for patient safety, billing accuracy, and facilitating continuity of care. By sending the incomplete paperwork back to the clinic, outpatient records personnel can ensure that all required information is collected properly before the records are finalized and stored.

Filing the documents as they are could lead to confusion or errors in the patient's medical history or treatment plans. Simply requesting the patient to complete it might result in delays or the potential for important information to be overlooked. Storing it in a separate folder does not resolve the issue of missing documentation; it still leaves the records incomplete and unusable for effective healthcare delivery. The best approach is to ensure all documentation meets the required standards before any filing or usage occurs.