When completing the ePCR for a patient, which statement is true?

• A. a written patient care record will need to be completed on arrival at the hospital.
• B. the ePCR is relatively unsecured and should not contain patient-specific information.
• C. the ePCR does not contain the same level of information as the written version and your verbal report should be expanded.
• D. the ePCR allows patient information to be transmitted directly to the receiving hospital's computers.

Answer: (D)

Electronic patient care reports are designed to share essential data with the hospital by transmitting it directly to the receiving facility’s computer systems. The true statement reflects how the ePCR supports a seamless handoff: all the collected patient information—vital signs, interventions, times, demographics, and assessment findings—can be sent to and accessed by the hospital before or during arrival. This improves accuracy, reduces transcription errors, and speeds up the hospital’s ability to prepare for the patient’s arrival.

The other ideas don’t fit because an ePCR is not inherently a backup to a separate written record; many systems aim to replace the need for a separate hospital handoff with the electronic document. It’s also incorrect to say the ePCR is unsecured or that it should contain less information than a written version; when properly protected, an ePCR securely transmits the same, if not more, essential data as the written record.