68-11-305 - Preservation of records for specified time Method of destruction. - Tennessee Statutes

68-11-305. Preservation of records for specified time Method of destruction.

(a)  (1)  Unless specified otherwise by the board, a hospital shall retain and preserve records that relate directly to the care and treatment of a patient for a period of ten (10) years following the discharge of the patient or such patient's death during such patient's period of treatment within the hospital.

     (2)  In cases of patients under mental disability or minority, their complete hospital records shall be retained for the period of minority or known mental disability, plus one (1) year, or ten (10) years following the discharge of the patient, whichever is longer.

(b)  An x-ray film may be retired four (4) years after the date of exposure, provided the written findings or interpretations of a radiologist who has read the x-ray film signed by the radiologist shall be retained for the same period as other hospital records under subsection (a).

(c)  (1)  Upon retirement of the record as provided in subsection (a), the record or any part of the retired record shall be destroyed by burning, shredding or other effective method in keeping with the confidential nature of its contents.

     (2)  Destruction of records must be made in the ordinary course of business and no record shall be destroyed on an individual basis.

[Acts 1974, ch. 588, § 5; 1980, ch. 706, § 2; T.C.A., § 53-1323.]