Medical Records Storage Requirements

Start with a needs assessment.

Medical records storage requirements.

When determining your medical records storage requirements it is important to estimate the data growth for at least the next five years while also increasing your estimate by anywhere from 5 to 20 to deal with unexpected levels of consumption. A needs assessment takes into account the current state of your records storage. Implement safe storage basics. No open shelves in a patient or research.

Records for adult patients must be maintained for a minimum of seven years from date of last patient encounter. Medical records and protected health information phi financial records like auditor s reports employee payroll records financial statements and general ledgers business records like articles of incorporation contracts and agreements and legal correspondence. Ensure that all of your paper medical records are protected from basic environmental. Storage medical records and phi must be stored where there is controlled access we recommend that medical records and phi stored.

Five steps to protecting paper medical records 1. Choose a link from the list below for state specific laws on privacy of medical records including who may access medical records what conditions must be reported by.