RCW 70.41.190
Medical records of patients—Retention and preservation.
Unless specified otherwise by the department, a hospital shall retain and preserve all medical records which relate directly to the care and treatment of a patient for a period of no less than ten years following the most recent discharge of the patient; except the records of minors, which shall be retained and preserved for a period of no less than three years following attainment of the age of eighteen years, or ten years following such discharge, whichever is longer.
If a hospital ceases operations, it shall make immediate arrangements, as approved by the department, for preservation of its records.
The department shall by regulation define the type of records and the information required to be included in the medical records to be retained and preserved under this section; which records may be retained in photographic form pursuant to chapter 5.46 RCW.
[ 1985 c 213 § 27; 1975 1st ex.s. c 175 § 1.]
NOTES:
Savings—Effective date—1985 c 213: See notes following RCW 43.20.050.
Medical records, disclosure: Chapter 70.02 RCW.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 70 - Public Health and Safety
Chapter 70.41 - Hospital Licensing and Regulation.
70.41.005 - Transfer of duties to the department of health.
70.41.010 - Declaration of purpose.
70.41.030 - Standards and rules.
70.41.040 - Enforcement of chapter—Personnel—Merit system.
70.41.100 - Applications for licenses and renewals—Fees.
70.41.110 - Licenses, provisional licenses—Issuance, duration, assignment, posting.
70.41.115 - Specialty hospitals—Licenses—Exemptions.
70.41.122 - Exemption from RCW 70.41.120 for hospitals accredited by other entities.
70.41.125 - Hospital construction review process—Coordination with state and local agencies.
70.41.130 - Administrative actions against license—Rules—Procedure.
70.41.150 - Denial, suspension, revocation of license—Disclosure of information.
70.41.155 - Duty to investigate patient well-being.
70.41.160 - Remedies available to department—Duty of attorney general.
70.41.180 - Physicians' services.
70.41.190 - Medical records of patients—Retention and preservation.
70.41.220 - Duty to keep records of restrictions on practitioners' privileges—Penalty.
70.41.240 - Information regarding conversion of hospitals to nonhospital health care facilities.
70.41.250 - Cost disclosure to health care providers.
70.41.300 - Long-term care—Definitions.
70.41.322 - Discharge planning—Requirements—Lay caregivers.
70.41.324 - Discharge planning—Certain policies and criteria not required.
70.41.326 - Discharge planning—Construction—Liability.
70.41.330 - Hospital complaint toll-free telephone number.
70.41.340 - Investigation of hospital complaints—Rules.
70.41.365 - Statewide sexual assault kit tracking system—Participation by hospitals.
70.41.367 - Sexual assault evidence kit collection—Availability, plan, and notice requirements.
70.41.370 - Investigation of complaints of violations concerning nursing technicians.
70.41.380 - Notice of unanticipated outcomes.
70.41.390 - Safe patient handling.
70.41.410 - Nurse staffing committee—Definitions.
70.41.420 - Nurse staffing committee.
70.41.425 - Nurse staffing—Department investigations.
70.41.440 - Duty to report violent injuries—Preservation of evidence—Immunity—Privilege.
70.41.450 - Estimated charges of hospital services—Notice.
70.41.460 - Contract with department of corrections.
70.41.480 - Findings—Intent—Authority to prescribe prepackaged emergency medications—Definitions.
70.41.485 - Opioid overdose reversal medications—Distribution—Labeling—Liability.
70.41.500 - Down syndrome—Parent information.