Week 8: Record Blog

Record’ can mean to ‘protect’ or ‘document’ findings, results from a progress of work.
This is constantly used in any work force, particularly for protection and security reasons of documents and plans within an Architectural office. If an architect runs into problems with a builder or engineer for example the plans are a record of what was done and what is to be done in terms of alterations and additions. This can then be communicated across all disciplines.
I read an interesting report that I felt was relevant to the topic ‘record’ though in a different profession. This report refers to the significance of ‘documentation’ and ‘recording’ results and findings within the hospital system. Documentation and record regardless of profession have the same importance.

The common motto being ‘If you did not document it, it was not done.’ (Oram, no date)
After all a record means to ‘give written information that is proof or support of something that has been done or observed.’ This becomes a legal document. (Oram, no date)
As I commented earlier, record is to protect, to provide this information gives you a certain level of legal protection.
You are entirely responsible for the noting, so it must be a legible and accurate observation of what the client wants and for peace of mind for yourself. (Oram, no date)
The purpose of documentation particularly in the medical industry is to show ‘what was done, when it was done, who did it, how it was done, how the client tolerated it.’ (Oram, no date)
These kinds of recordings are similar to the details found on plans in the title block.
The report goes on to explain ‘care plans’ in the medical industry. These are regarded as written documentation of a patient’s situation. It involves the nurse; predicting/observing diagnosis, predicting interventions, predicting outcomes. (Oram, no date)

This principle could also be important for recording and documenting a working process in the architectural collaborative process. A similar plan can be devised to record and plan the project, plan for problems, and plan for the outcome through observation. These can be recorded either in written form or electronic form. In doing this you can begin to save a lot of time in the present and the future if legal problems shall arise.
The following images are tools used in many architectural firms for storing written documents, records, reports and plans that may be useful for the future should a legal documentation be required.



Figure 1. Verti plan



Figure 2. Hang- a- plan




References:

Oram,M, no date, ‘Keys to Documentation’, accessed 04 May 2008, <http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:dkL09nfoxXoJ:excellenceinlearning.net/courses/111.doc+Why+is+record+and+documentation+so+important%3F&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4>
Images:
Figure 1. Verti plan courtesy of <http://www.elitebuilt.com.au/vertiplan/index.html>
Figure 2. Hang-a-plan <http://www.office365.co.uk/Artists-Graphics-Supplies/600210-Arnos-Hang-A.htm>