How many years does the standard of care recommend clinics keep medical records?

The standard of care generally recommends that clinics retain medical records for a minimum of 7 years. This duration provides a reasonable timeframe for access to an animal's medical history, which can be crucial for ongoing treatment, medical assessments, and legal purposes. Retaining records for at least 7 years ensures that a clinic can adequately track a patient’s health issues, treatments, and any potential complications or follow-up needs.

While some facilities may choose to keep records for a longer period, especially in certain states or for specific types of cases, the 7-year mark is widely accepted as a standard across the veterinary field. This length of time also aligns with many national recommendations for record retention in human medical practices, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive documentation in patient care.

Other choices may suggest shorter or longer retention periods, but they do not reflect the standard consensus on record keeping in veterinary medicine. Keeping records beyond the standard period also poses storage and management challenges and might not provide added benefits given the standards for continuity and legal relevance.