When using PCR for research or quality assurance, what should you delete?

When preparing patient care reports (PCR) for research or quality assurance purposes, it is essential to protect patient confidentiality in compliance with privacy laws and regulations, such as HIPAA in the United States. Thus, the deletion of the patient's name is crucial. By removing identifying information, you ensure that the data can be used for research or quality assurance without compromising the patient's right to privacy.

This practice not only safeguards personal information but also allows for the analysis of medical outcomes, response effectiveness, and other factors without linking data to individual patients. This way, the focus remains on improving services and understanding trends without risking the exposure of sensitive patient details.