Why is legibility so important in medical records?
Answer: Records must be legible so that team members may follow instructions for treatment for the current visit. Team members must also be able to refer to the history of the patient when it returns for future visits. Should the patient need to be referred to a specialist, the specialty practice must be able to read diagnostics and treatments for the patient. Should the case ever become the subject of a lawsuit, the judge must be able to read and understand the record in order to make a fair ruling on the case.