What You Need to Know About Medical Records

May 13, 2025

Did you know that ISMIE offers several resources to help you use your electronic medical records more efficiently? Check out these resources:

• Medical record access and retention details how long medical records must be retained, including state-specific exceptions; who can access a medical record; how they should be released; whether fees for copying records can be charged; and what to do if a patient has past medical records in a different language.


• Electronic medical records covers the risks associated with electronic medical records and how you can limit those risks. This resource also includes the workings of audit trails, which create the timelines of what was entered when.


• Medical record security emphasizes the importance of good recordkeeping practices for medical records and why they must be secured. The success of a physician’s or clinician’s defense efforts in a medical liability suit can often point back to the medical records.

If you have questions, please contact the Risk Management Division by email.