Bert -

I'm glad you think this may be a viable alternative.

To answer your question, when I had paper charts lying on my desk, no one ever came into my office, signed and refiled them for me without my permission. Unlikely someone else would go into my "Incomplete Chart" box and sign off my charts electronically either - I don't really see this as a potential problme and do not want to overly complicate a potential elegant solution.. But how about this idea: when a provider activates the "Close Without Signing" dialogue box, the chart can then be signed off ONLY by the provider WHO INITIALLY closed it without signing. (before then, however, it still remains accessible to the staff without forwarding back and forth)

Bruce Morgenstern, MD (Neurology)
Denver, CO