NFO Business of Medicine Web Series: Record Retention Basics for Healthcare Practices

Healthcare practices generate and maintain a variety of records—patient health records, business records, and personnel records—that are crucial for providing quality care and managing risk. The management of these records must adhere to both federal and state regulations to ensure legal compliance, confidentiality, and operational efficiency. Properly maintaining and managing records throughout their lifecycle—from creation to destruction—mitigates the risks associated with malpractice claims and ensures that the practice remains in compliance with applicable laws. Objectives: 1. Identify essential components of formal record retention policies and procedures. 2. Understand the regulatory requirements and risk management considerations for patient health record retention. 3. Examine the various considerations related to record retention, including paper vs. electronic records and provider specialties. 4. Describe the processes involved in the secure destruction of records and related privacy protections. 5. Review the requirements and processes for transferring patient records when a practice is closed or sold. 6. Understand the implications of patient record requests and the responsibility of healthcare providers after retirement or practice closure.