Ask Dr. Z

Does a cardiovascular stress test tracing report need to be signed to be considered a valid medical record document for facility claims reporting purposes? The tracing report is a separate scanned paper document in the patient record from the electronically documented interpretation note by the performing provider. Does the electronic authentication on the interpretation note also count as authenticating the tracing report (the thought process is the tracing report had to be reviewed to get the interpretation, so by signing the interpretation it also authenticates the tracing report, even though it isn't actually authenticated in the record)? I'm leaning towards the CFR 482.24(c)(1) guidance to say that the tracing report also needs a provider signature.