Question

Office policy regarding the length of time for retaining patient files should be based on the

a) Patient's preference
b) Legal requirements
c) Aesthetic considerations
d) Staff availability

Answer 1

Policies regarding the retention of patient files should consider legal requirements, costs of treatments and diagnoses, and patient quality of life.

Step-by-step explanation:

When developing policies that balance the costs of treatments and diagnoses, patient quality of life, and risks to individual privacy in regards to health records, there are three questions that must be addressed:

1. How can we ensure that the retention period for patient files is sufficient to meet legal requirements while also respecting the patient's privacy?
2. What impact does the length of time for retaining patient files have on the costs of treatments and diagnoses?
3. How can patient quality of life be maintained while also considering the need to retain health records?