Papirjournaler

Papirjournaler are physical, paper-based records used to document information in various professional settings, most notably in healthcare but also in administration and education. The term is common in Nordic languages to distinguish traditional paper records from digital equivalents such as electronic health records (EHRs) or digital case files. They provide a tangible log of a person’s information and activities within a given system.

Typically, papirejournaler contain dated entries written by professionals such as physicians, nurses, clerks, or educators. In healthcare, they may include patient identifiers, clinical observations, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescribed medications, laboratory results, orders, and correspondence. Records are usually organized by patient and arranged chronologically, with indexing to aid retrieval. Filing practices vary, but common approaches include filing by patient name or ID and preserving records in secure, access-controlled archives.

The use of paper journals offers certain advantages, such as accessibility without digital devices and resilience in settings with limited information technology. They can also serve as a supplementary reference during transitions between systems or during outages. However, papirejournaler present challenges: legibility issues due to handwriting, physical deterioration, substantial storage needs, risk of misfiling or loss, and privacy concerns. They can also hinder rapid data extraction, sharing, and interoperability across systems.

Many institutions have migrated toward digitization, implementing EMR/EHR systems and digitizing existing paper records. Legal retention requirements and archival needs mean that some papirejournaler remain in use or are preserved as historical documents. Modern practices often involve digitization and standardized archival methods to improve long-term access, searchability, and compliance.