How long do physicians keep medical records

With that comes a lot of good questions: What do your medical records contain? How long are medical records kept, and who sees them? We compiled a list of common questions patients have about their medical records. Keep reading to learn more about this key component of effective, modern healthcare. How long do hospitals keep medical records? Laws for keeping medical records differ depending on whether the records are held by private-practice medical doctors or by hospitals.

The length of time a healthcare system keeps medical records also depends on whether the patient is an adult or a minor. If you have health history questions from a long time ago, accessing old medical records can be a bit of a nightmare. Under HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , you have the legal right to all of your medical records at no cost except for a reasonable fee to, say, print and mail you the records. But tracking down old medical records can be a challenge with disorganized providers, varying processes at each institution and other barriers to access potentially causing issues.

In theory, ERHs and EMRs are supposed to make this process easier—but in practice, these systems were new to many institutions as of the last ten to fifteen years , and many are still working out the kinks.

This is part of why health information professionals are becoming indispensable. The healthcare community goes to great lengths to keep medical information private. Thanks to HIPAA restrictions , privacy and security standards are regulated across all aspects of the healthcare industry.

Your health information is seen by your doctors and hospitals as well as any loved ones you give permissions for. Though the American Civil Liberties Union ACLU writes that both law enforcement and government entities can obtain medical records with a written explanation that does not require patient consent or patient notification if they believe the records are relevant to an investigation.

Your medical records most likely contain an array of information about your health and personal information. This includes medical histories, diagnoses, immunization dates, allergies and notes on your progress. Medical records are shared electronically between providers, specialists, pharmacies, medical imaging facilities, laboratories and clinics that you attend.

All the professionals involved in your care have access to your medical records for safety and consistency in treatment. Electronic medical records EMRs are digital versions of the paper charts that healthcare providers used to use in clinics, hospitals and medical offices.

They contain notes and information for diagnosis and treatment. Electronic health records EHRs are broader. Authorized clinicians, as well as laboratory personnel, specialists and other medical professionals, access these records. These records follow you throughout your life. Personal health records are another variation of medical records.

These are patient-facing records that are designed for patient access. Patients can find their immunization history, family medical history, diagnoses, medication information and provider information in their personal health records. Above all, the purpose of electronic health records is to improve patient outcomes. With insights pulled from data and research, medical facilities aim to increase efficiency, improve coordination of care and improve care quality for the sake of patients.

They also seek to maintain the privacy and security of records. This initiative is called meaningful use and is currently underway in the health information technology field.

Transferring medical records from paper charts to electronic systems was a big step for the healthcare community. But why was it done? There are many reasons to embrace electronic records. Even if your back room is locked and your health IT system offers top-notch encryption, security breaches and HIPAA violations can still occur.

As long as you keep documented records of all destructions, proper disposal of old data is the best way to ensure patient confidentiality is upheld. So comb through your old charts, dig through your electronic data and destroy what no longer needs to be retained. Harboring old medical records? Learn about the pros and cons of in-house billing vs.

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Maryland Board of Physicians. Maryland law requires that medical records be maintained for at least 5 years from the date the record or report was created.