What is one significant impact of falsifying medical records on patient care?

Falsifying medical records has a profound impact on patient care primarily because it can lead to incorrect diagnoses and treatments. Accurate and complete medical records are crucial for healthcare providers to make informed decisions about a patient’s care. When records are falsified, essential information may be omitted or altered, which can mislead healthcare professionals. This could result in inappropriate treatment plans, medication errors, or failure to identify critical conditions, ultimately jeopardizing patient safety and outcomes.

Moreover, the integrity of medical records is fundamental to the continuity of care. If practitioners rely on inaccurate information, they cannot provide the evidence-based care that patients need. Each interaction in a patient’s healthcare journey builds upon previous records; hence, misinformation can create a domino effect that may severely hinder the quality of care patients receive.