Abstract
With the advent of public reporting of clinical performance for physicians, the need for accurate documentation is essential. This study tested the hypothesis that a short tutorial on five key documentation tips for a group of colorectal surgeons could significantly improve their reported clinical performance. Data was collected on a total of 626 consecutive inpatients before and after the introduction of a short tutorial focusing on five key documentation tips to a group of colorectal surgeons. Quality metrics were compared between the two time periods. Significant improvements were observed for complications (p = 0.001), morbidity (p = 0.046), ileus (p = 0.027), and digestive system complications (p < 0.01). There was no difference in mortality (p = 0.569) or readmissions (p = 0.920). A short tutorial focusing on five key documentation tips is associated with improvement in the reported clinical performance of colorectal surgeons.