According to Maryland Regulations, how long must patient records be kept?

In Maryland, the regulation stipulates that patient records must be retained for a minimum of 5 years following the patient's last treatment. This duration serves to ensure that healthcare providers have adequate access to the necessary information for ongoing patient care, legal purposes, and any potential audits or investigations that may arise. The 5-year timeframe is designed to balance the needs for both patient confidentiality and the practicalities of record management in a healthcare setting.

Maintaining records for this mandated period reflects an understanding of the evolving nature of a patient's health conditions and treatments, making it essential for practitioners to retain this documentation. Keeping records beyond this duration may not be necessary for most cases unless there are specific legal or regulatory requirements that dictate otherwise. This is why the choice of a 5-year retention period aligns with best practices in patient record management in Maryland.