Which of the following is appropriate to document when a supervising physician counsels a PA about an error?

• A. The PA's self-assessment only
• B. Date/time, people present, description of the error, guidance given, action plan, follow-up steps, and signatures
• C. The error's costs
• D. A generic line stating 'an error occurred'

Answer: (B)

When documenting supervisory counseling after an error, the record should be complete and specific about what happened and how it was addressed. The best documentation includes the date and time, who was present, a clear description of the error, the guidance given, the action plan, follow-up steps, and signatures. This creates an auditable, educational record that supports patient safety, accountability, and ongoing improvement. Relying on a self-assessment alone misses crucial context; focusing on costs ignores the clinical and educational responses; and a generic line that an error occurred fails to capture necessary details for learning and prevention.