You are an administrator at a new medical office, and part of your duties is to establish protocol for the practice management. A patient comes into your office stating that they received a copy of their medical records, and they found several inaccuracies in their records. After inspecting the challenges to their medical records, you consult the doctor who is creating the record entries, and the doctor claims the records are accurate. You consult the Washington state law on amending medical records.

Describe the protocol you will develop for the practice based on the incident and your reading of Washington law (check the links above). Explain your reasoning. Suppose that, upon inspecting the records, you discover that the records are very incomplete and questionably show a low standard of care. How would you address this issue in the practice and with whom? (Assume there is a managing physician or someone who has authority above you.) What additions would you add to the protocol you describe above? Describe them. Would you take any other action, such as reporting the physician? Describe what other actions and to whom would you report the physician?