It used to be the patient's charts were hanging at the foot of the bed. This made it easy for the doctor doing the rounds to get accurate information and for an

It used to be the patient's charts were hanging at the foot of the bed. This made it easy for the doctor doing the rounds to get accurate information and for any observers, such as family and friends, to verify that the doctor was actually aware of the details of the patient's condition. Nowadays computer charting is so unusable that patients with drugs allergies are surprised if their physician doesn't try to prescribe a drug that will kill them.