Skip to Content

Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-11-305 - Requirements for Preservation of Patient Care Records for Hospitals

Link to the law
This will open in a new window

Hospitals must retain patient care records for 10 years following the patient’s discharge or death.  For patients who are minors or have a mental disability, the hospital must maintain the patient records for the longer period of time until the minor reaches adulthood or for the entire period of the mental disability plus 1 year, or for 10 years following death or discharge.  X-rays may be destroyed after 4 years of retention provided that the written findings are retained with the patient’s medical record.  After the retention period ends, the records may be destroyed by burning, shredding, or other means that preserves the confidentiality of the records. 

 


Current as of June 2015