Managing Lab Notebooks

[Circlenaut]

So after years of using computers and getting very used to organizing things but subject, sub-subject, etc... I find it very hard to keep a regular lab notebook using the traditional way. It just seems so disorganized. Traditionally everything is kept by day, at the end of the day your work is signed. Each page is a new day unless continuing work from a previous page.

How do you guys keep a notebook in a digital age? Any HIPAA digitally compliant notebook software? By far the best feature of a digital notebook is searching. The downside is that things can be added, traditionally it should not be possible to add more "work" after the day is over.

 

[FleshLight]

http://www.laserfiche.com/

 

[Circlenaut]

Originally posted by: FleshLight
http://www.laserfiche.com/

That seems like something that would need to be implemented company wide. I don't think it would fly in academia.

I suppose I could just get start to using evernote?

 

[FleshLight]

Originally posted by: Pippy

Originally posted by: FleshLight
http://www.laserfiche.com/

That seems like something that would need to be implemented company wide. I don't think it would fly in academia.

I suppose I could just get start to using evernote?

Either that or get a tablet pc or scan your lab manuals at the end of the day?

 

[zinfamous]

lab notebook? dated...signed?

I've worked in some 4 labs over the years...never had to have anything signed.

dated for convenience only

 

[Circlenaut]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
lab notebook? dated...signed?

I've worked in some 4 labs over the years...never had to have anything signed.

dated for convenience only

Depends how strict the PI is.

 

[Barfo]

Is this about paper notebooks?

 

[Babbles]

I have worked at a few labs over the past ten years, and at about half of them bound notebooks are still used for various things. However at my last employer we were talking about trying to find a way to phase them out.

Depending on the industry you work in, there are regulations (e.g. cGMP) about maintaining method procedures in a manner that demonstrates integrity (i.e. can't remove or add pages). Notebooks generally fit this bill. It would be hard to totally replace notebooks with computers because, again per some regulations, data has to be recorded immediately after time of observance so essentially you have to have the notebook on the lab bench while you are doing things. This may not be practical with using a laptop.