The bill amends RCW 70.41.190 to establish new requirements for the retention of hospital medical records. Under the new provisions, hospitals are mandated to retain and preserve all medical records for a minimum of 26 years from the date the record was created. This applies to both records created before and after the effective date of the bill. The bill also allows hospitals to maintain these records in various formats, including paper, microfilm, and electronic media. Additionally, it clarifies that hospitals must comply with other record retention requirements and outlines that all information collected during each unique visit is considered a medical record.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if a hospital ceases operations, it must make immediate arrangements for the preservation of its records, subject to approval by the department. The department is tasked with defining the types of records and the necessary information to be included in the retained medical records, which may also be kept in photographic form. Overall, the bill significantly extends the duration for which hospitals must retain medical records, ensuring better long-term access to patient information.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 70.41.190
Substitute Bill: 70.41.190