[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 233 (Monday, December 6, 1999)] [Notices] [Page 68110] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-31514] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Interagency Committee for Medical Records (ICMR) Guidelines for Videotaped Documentation of Episodes of Medical Care AGENCY: General Services Administration. ACTION: Guidelines for Videotaped Documentation of Episodes of Medical Care. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The members of the Interagency Committee on Medical Records (ICMR) voted to approve the following guidelines which we recommend for adoption throughout the federal health care system: Videotapes are not part of the medical record. When an episode of health care is to be documented by videotape (e.g., surgical procedures, medical evaluation, or telemedicine consultation), the patient must provide written consent for the taping (unless the consultation is for the documentation of abuse or neglect). Consent should be done if the person can be identified. The episode of care should be documented in accordance with standard operating procedures (official written and/or electronic records). The videotape should be erased after standard documentation is complete, unless the videotape is required for a specified interval for a specific reason (e.g., documentation of procedures in preparation for board certification, or documentation of abuse/neglect). The provider should indicate in final documentation whether or not the image was erased, or where the videotape will be maintained. Exceptions to the prohibition against retaining videotapes may be permitted for cases with educational value. Tapes are not filed by any type of personal identifier. If they are, then all Privacy Act regulations should be followed. Any agency which chooses to keep such images on file for educational purposes must develop appropriate policies and standard operating procedures. These guidelines do not apply to electronic images such as radiographs and digital photographs, for which documentation processes are already in place. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this guideline. Comments should refer to the guideline by name and should be sent to: CDR Steven S. Kerrick; National Naval Medical Center, Department of Opthamology, Bethesda, MD 20889-5000. Dated: November 16, 1999. CDR Steven S. Kerrick, Chairperson, Interagency Committee on Medical Records. [FR Doc. 99-31514 Filed 12-3-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-34-M