Records Retention Guide

Storing records needlessly is costly. Yet disposing of them prematurely raises liability concerns. This straightforward guide tells which records should be kept and for how long, and helps you establish an efficient records retention schedule. Included is an overview of legal considerations, electronic and image-stored records and the potential for litigation.

Especially useful is a schedule of statutory and regulatory retention requirements by provider type. All records commonly used by health care providers are listed. The guide also recommends how long to keep records when the law requires retention but doesn’t specify time frames.

This updated edition also includes new retention information covering mammography, laboratory and electronic records as well as HIPAA privacy requirements.

A useful guide for all health care providers.

Contents
• Record Retention Considerations
• Recommended Record Retention Schedule
  o Administrative Records
  o Admitting Records
  o Business Records
  o Dietary Department Records
  o Engineering Records
  o Housekeeping Records
  o Individual Department Records
  o Laboratory and Imaging Records
  o Medical Records
  o Medical Staff Records
  o Nuclear Medicine Records
  o Nursing Records
  o Personnel Records
  o Pharmaceutical Records
  o Public Relations Records
  o Purchasing and Receiving Records
  o Research Records
• Appendix A-California Law
• Appendix B-Federal Law

CHA*, 81 pages (7th edition, 2002)

*California Hospital Association (CHA) books only - if CHIA member is an employee of a facility that can be a member of CHIA, but is not, CHA books must be sold at the NonMember price.