An accurate record of the proceedings of a meeting.
The written record of the proceedings of a body or group. In health care, such bodies include the governing body, the medical staff, and committees of the hospital and medical staff. Minutes should include the date of the meeting, who was present, and who wrote the minutes. Topics should be listed separately for ease of reading and retrieval of information, and all significant actions taken by the body should be noted. Minutes need not (and should not) include “minute” detail of discussions (usually, the fact that a topic was discussed, and whether action was taken, is sufficient), who said what, who made or seconded a motion, or who voted for what (unless a request is made to note names of voters). Excessive detail can inhibit the free speech necessary for intelligent decision-making. Minutes may in some instances become evidence in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding, so their accuracy and conciseness is important.