As a medical professional, you are required by state law to retain patient records for a minimum period, and failure to do so can lead to sanctions or fines. SynergyIXS, the foremost medical record retrieval company, discusses some of the regulatory retention time limit requirementsfor New York and other states below. SynergyIXS offers safe, efficient record storage to keep your records secure from data breaches while maintaining quick and easy retrieval options.

Minimum Medical Record Retention Periods for Doctors

Record storage and access requirements vary by state, by the age of the patient, and by type of medical facility. For instance, New York State requires doctors store records for adult patients for six years. For minor patients, on the other hand, doctors must retain records for six years and for a minimum of one year after the patient reaches majority. New York State requirements land in the middle range; New Mexico, for example, requires retention for only two years, while South Carolina requires 10 years for adults and 13 for minors.

Minimum Medical Record Retention Periods for Hospitals

New York State requires hospitals keep availability open for medical record retrieval for six years after the discharge date for adults and minors, or until the patient turns 21—whichever is longer. By comparison, North Carolina requires hospitals maintain records retrieval for 11 years following discharge of adults, or until the minor patient’s 30th birthday. Most states do not legislate record retention periods for deceased patients, but in New York, hospitals are required to retain the records of deceased patients for six years after the patient’s death.

SynergyIXS, the medical record retrieval specialists, can access records and data from sources in all 50 states and in Washington, DC. Their service is smooth, efficient, and reliable, and their pricing is affordable. Visit their website to learn more, or call (800) 801-4091 to speak to a courteous professional about your record storage and access needs.

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