The need for security of patient records cannot be overstated. Managing patient medical records in accordance with patient data regulations can be complex at the best of times.
All patient data has a lifecycle. This means patient records are taken, saved and destroyed to protect and keep information secure. The retention of a patient’s medical records must end to maintain compliance and security. When the retention period expires, all patient data is to be uniformly and completely destroyed. However, if patient medical record collection, retention and deletion are not streamlined, errors often occur.
The to-do list of medical practices might overwhelm patient data systems, and documents can be waylaid or forgotten. Human error and accidents happen, which can result in the loss or misplacement of patients’ medical records. If the system of patient data collection is not streamlined, patient information may live on, unprotected and vulnerable. Managing medical record systems will alleviate these issues, preserving patient data and ensuring medical records—whether physical files or in an electronic records system—are safely and completely dealt with.
Managing the data lifecycle in accordance with scales of data quality and compliance is vital. Authorised healthcare providers must have access to patient medical records during the data lifecycle, and structures must be implemented in accordance with governmental digital policies. Iron Mountain oversees the implementation and correction of management systems so that health information can be protected at all stages of the patient data lifecycle. Iron Mountain is fully equipped to securely destroy and dispose of patient data at the end of the retention period.
Whether in paper format or through Electronic Medical Records systems, Iron Mountain ensures security and compliance with government guidelines, establishing confidence in your organisation’s medical records management system.