Medical records for adult patients are generally retained for at least 10 years. If the patient was a minor or incompetent at the time of treatment the medical charts should be held longer.
The amount of time a medical chart / file should be held varies by state.
Health information management is crucial in today’s healthcare industry. Many healthcare facilities and hospitals store medical records off-site in a records management facility like The File Room. Storing and managing medical records requires extensive knowledge of medical records regulations as outlined by HIPAA in order to remain compliant. The File Room is capable of handling the demands associated with medical records management and provides professional, quick service for the retrieving and transporting requested files.
Hospitals and smaller healthcare facilities are required to retain patient records for several years. Due to space limitations, it can be beneficial to store patient charts and records off-site for better management of the files. Storing medical records off-site serves as a benefit to both the patient and the medical staff by allowing them to focus on healthcare and leaving the medical records management to the professionals at The File Room.
The File Room fulfills any requests for patient files by quickly transporting it to the medical office staff. In addition, storing files off-site protects them if a flood, fire, earthquake or other disaster occurs inside the healthcare facility. Medical file storage off-site serves as an emergency preparedness plan.
For a free assessment from the experts in managing off-site medical chart storage, contact The File Room at 314.209.0600 or via email at info@thefileroom.com.