Wiki Guidelines for Records Retention

[jenndeshon]

My office manager has asked me to find out the guidelines for how long we must keep a patient's medical record before we can dispose of it. We have limited space in our facility to store these and currently keep a chart around 6 years. We are oral & maxillofacial surgeons so we generally see a patient only a few times. Can someone please enlighten us and give us an idea where we might find documentation to back it up?

Thanks in advance!
Jennifer, CPC

 

[smarcolina]

Jennifer,
I would try this site dos.state___.us/records management. In the empty space type in what state you are in and then navigate through. It will give you a print out regarding the regulations for your state. In the state of Florida it is 7 yrs. after last entry. Hope this helps.
Sharon

 

[hzucco]

In California it is 7 years and if the patient is a minor than we keep the record until the patient turns 21.

Hope this helps.

Heather

 

[smcbroom]

it is 7 years for Nevada also...seems to be the average time frame. I believe that ours for minors is until age 18.