What does proper documentation in healthcare achieve?

Proper documentation in healthcare is crucial as it provides a legal record of the patient's care and ensures continuity of care among providers. It creates a detailed account of all medical interventions, treatments, and patient interactions, which can be vital for future healthcare decisions. This thorough record allows other healthcare providers to understand the patient's history, current treatment plans, and any progress or changes in their condition, thus ensuring coordinated and informed care.

Additionally, having a reliable documentation system can help healthcare providers defend their actions if ever questioned in a legal context. This promotes accountability and enhances overall safety in patient care. Continuity of care is facilitated as all providers involved have access to accurate and up-to-date information, which is essential for effective patient management and treatment.

While other options suggest that documentation may add to workload, only fulfill auditing requirements, or limit access to information, these perspectives do not reflect the core purposes and benefits of comprehensive healthcare documentation, which focuses on promoting care quality, safety, and legal integrity.