BMJ Qual Saf

Duplicate medical records tied to markedly worse inpatient outcomes

February 4, 2026

In a propensity‑matched cohort study across 12 U.S. hospitals, hospitalized adults with duplicate medical records had significantly worse outcomes than those with a single chart. Duplicate records were associated with nearly 5‑fold higher odds of in‑hospital mortality, 3.5‑fold higher odds of ICU‑level care, 30% higher odds of readmission, and 32% longer hospital stays.

Clinical takeaway: Clinicians should remain vigilant for signs of duplicate charts and promptly request record consolidation to reduce information gaps that may compromise patient safety.

Source:

Roda, G, et al. (2026, February 3). BMJ Qual Saf. Double trouble: a propensity- matched cohort study evaluating the associations between duplicate medical records and patient outcomes. https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/early/2026/01/22/bmjqs-2025-019112