What should be included in the documentation of laser use besides the laser's settings?

The documentation of laser use should encompass a variety of elements that provide a complete record of the treatment process, ensuring both accountability and continuity of care. Time spent using the laser is essential to document, as it helps in understanding treatment duration, assessing outcomes, and managing overall treatment protocols. Documenting the exact amount of time the laser was applied provides valuable insight into the treatment's effectiveness and helps inform any necessary adjustments for future sessions.

Information regarding the patient's feedback, type of anesthesia used, and risk factors associated with laser use is also important but serves different roles in the treatment cycle and may not be considered as critical to the core details of the laser application itself. For instance, patient feedback is subjective and may vary widely from person to person, while types of anesthesia are specific to the patient’s comfort needs and risk factors are typically assessed before treatment. However, none of these directly track the application details in the same straightforward manner as the time of laser use. This clarity in documentation is crucial for legal, clinical, and patient safety reasons, underscoring the importance of precise record-keeping in medical practice.