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Do You Know How Long to Retain Medical Records?

August 30, 2022

ISMIE resource provides guidance on medical record access and retention

 
A number of factors need to be considered when determining how long you need to keep medical records, including state and federal laws, medical board policies, the statute of limitations in your state and where the care is provided.
 
As a general rule, medical records of adult patients should be retained for a minimum of 10 years from the date of last patient contact. There are, of course, a few exceptions, including:
 
  • Records of an individual with permanent disabilities or a legal disability
 
  • Records of occupational exposure

  • Records involved in a malpractice claim
 
All of these records should be kept permanently, which means as long as you have a license to practice medicine plus the applicable statute of limitations period. There are also some individual state exceptions.
 
ISMIE recommends medical records of minor patients be retained for a minimum of 10 years from the date of last patient contact, or until the age specified by your state, whichever is longer.
 
Check out ISMIE’s resource on medical record access and retention to learn more about the official record of a patient’s care.
 
If you have questions, please contact the Risk Management Division by email.
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