Header Block
Confirm presence and correctness of CDA header elements: clinicalDocument id, typeId, templateId, author, custodian, and legalAuthenticator where required. These elements drive document routing and provenance.
A structured review reduces clinical risk, supports interoperability, and ensures documents meet regulatory and payer requirements such as HIPAA privacy rules and auditability.
Collaboration across these roles helps catch both technical and clinical defects early, reducing rework and patient safety exposure.
Confirm presence and correctness of CDA header elements: clinicalDocument id, typeId, templateId, author, custodian, and legalAuthenticator where required. These elements drive document routing and provenance.
Validate patient identifiers (MRN, DOB, name, address) against authoritative source systems and ensure consistent use of identifier systems and assigning authorities.
Check provider NPI and organization identifiers; confirm author and custodian roles are accurate for downstream attribution and credentialing.
Review coded entries (LOINC, SNOMED CT, ICD) for correct codes and code systems; verify value sets align with local implementation guides.
Ensure narrative text aligns with coded data, does not omit critical findings, and uses templated section headings to aid human and machine parsing.
Confirm timestamps, digital signatures, and audit metadata exist so recipients can verify authenticity and chain of custody.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Document ID field | Required, read-only mapped to file metadata |
| Reviewer signature | Required, timestamped eSignature field |
| Conditional checklist | Show additional checks for certain document types |
| Authentication | Email plus optional SMS or KBA |
Prefer platforms with HIPAA BAA options, tamper-evident signed outputs, and APIs for automated archival and exchange.
24–72 hours from receipt for non-urgent CDA instances
Same-day review for emergency or transition-of-care documents
30 days for minor metadata fixes; immediate recall for patient safety issues
Retention measured from document creation or last effective date
Signed review records must be retrievable within 48 hours for compliance checks
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by plan |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies | Varies | Varies |