What do the "+" signs indicate in the patient documentation?

The "+" signs in patient documentation typically indicate additional values that are documented in a patient's record. This notation helps healthcare providers quickly identify that there is supplementary information or data related to a particular assessment, measurement, or observation within the patient’s documentation. It serves as a way to streamline and clarify the information being presented, ensuring that all relevant details are easily accessible.

This practice is particularly beneficial in situations where multiple values need to be recorded for a single aspect of patient care, such as laboratory results, vital signs, or assessments. By using the "+" sign, it effectively communicates that there are more detailed entries associated with the primary data, which can assist in making informed clinical decisions.

In contrast, the other interpretations do not accurately reflect the standard usage of "+" in documentation. Extra charges filed would typically be denoted differently, as would notes pertaining to multiple conditions or medications; these are usually indicated with specific terminology or coding rather than just a symbol.