Standing Orders in Hospitals Revisions to SandC Memoranda

We are clarifying a portion of S&C-08-12 and S&C-08-18, issued on February 8 and April 11, 2008 respectively, regarding use of standing orders in hospitals. The use of standing orders must be documented as an order in the patient's medical record and signed by the practitioner responsible for the care of the patient, but the timing of such documentation should not be a barrier to effective emergency response, timely and necessary care, or other patient safety advances.