How long are records and/or documentation required to kept ?

Retention of medical records is generally determined by state and/or federal law. Organizations should work with their legal and risk management leadership to determine state-specific medical record retention requirements. Likewise, legal and risk management leadership should determine retention requirements for documents NOT considered part of the permanent patient medical record. Examples of documents not considered part of the patient's medical record may include, but are not limited to:

• Crash cart daily checks
• Temperature monitoring logs,
• Human Resource/employee file documents,
• meeting agendas and minutes,
• sign-in sheets for attendance at  meetings,
• educational events,
• Etc.

From a survey perspective, organizations are required to have records available during the survey process that goes back to their last full survey.  Compliance with more stringent requirements of local/state/federal controlling authorities is also expected.