In the U.S., most providers are required to keep medical records for 5 to 10 years after your last visit. Hospitals often keep records longer than individual doctors, and some states require hospitals to hold them for decades. These rules are called medical record retention laws, and they vary by state. While laws set the minimum, many providers keep records longer for malpractice protection or continuity of care. Therefore, it's always best to consult your provider about their own retention period policy to see how long your records will be kept there
How Long Do Doctors Keep Medical Records?
Doctors typically keep patient medical records for 5 to 10 years, though state laws vary. For pediatric records, the retention often extends beyond the age of adulthood plus some additional years.
Number of Years Medical Doctors Are Required to Keep Records
How Long Do Hospitals Keep Medical Records?
Most hospitals in the U.S. keep medical records for 5 to 10 years after a patient’s discharge. Some states require longer retention, such as 20–30 years, especially for minors. Pediatric records are usually held until the patient reaches legal adulthood (18–21) plus several additional years. Always check your state’s retention law and your hospital’s policy to know the exact timeframe.
Number of Years Hospitals Are Required to Keep Records
It's also important to get ahead and take the time to request your own records, so you don't find yourself in a situation where your records have been disposed of. You can store these records securely on your own computer, a secure drive, or a secure personal health app like Guava. Guava allows you to directly connect with most providers so you can get your records much faster.
This information is from the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC).
How Long Should You Keep Your Own Medical Records?
It’s a good idea to keep essential records like medical history, surgeries, abnormal lab results, immunizations, and chronic condition notes indefinitely, or at least much longer than most providers legally must. Many less important documents (routine checkups, normal lab tests) can be discarded after 5–10 years if duplicates exist.
Each State's Retention Law
| State | Medical Doctor | Hospital |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Unspecified but should be held until necessary for patient treatment and medical legal purposes. | Minimum 5 years |
| Alaska | No requirement | Minimum 7 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case the records should be held until the patient is 21 years old or the 7 year period if that is longer. |
| Arizona | Minimum 6 years after the last services from the provider unless the patient is a minor, in which case the records should be held until the patient is 21 years old or the 6 year period if that is longer. | Minimum 6 years after the last services from the provider unless the patient is a minor, in which case the records should be held until the patient is 21 years old or the 6 year period if that is longer. |
| Arkansas | No requirement | Minimum 10 years after the last discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case the records should be held until the patient is 20 years old. The patient index data is kept permanently. |
| California | No requirement | Minimum 7 years after the discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case the records should be held until the patient is 19 years old or the 7 year period if that is longer. |
| Colorado | No requirement | Minimum 10 years after the last patient care unless the patient is a minor, in which case the records should be held until the patient is 28 years old. |
| Connecticut | Minimum 7 years from the last treatment or 3 years after the death of the patient. | Minimum 10 years after discharge. |
| Delaware | Minimum 7 years from the last record entry. | No requirement |
| District of Columbia | Minimum 3 years after the patient’s last visit unless the patient is a minor, in which case the records should be held either for 3 years or until the patient is 21 years old. | Minimum 10 years after discharge. |
| Florida | Minimum 5 years from the last visit. | Minimum 7 years after the last entry for public hospitals. |
| Georgia | Minimum 10 years from the record creation. | Minimum 5 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case the records should be held until the patient is 23 years old. |
| Hawaii | Minimum 7 years after the last data entry for full medical records. Basic information is kept 25 years after the last data entry unless the patient is a minor, in which case full medical records are kept till the patient is 25 years old and basic information is kept until the patient is 43 years old. | Minimum 7 years after the last data entry for full medical records. Basic information is kept 25 years after the last data entry unless the patient is a minor, in which case full medical records are kept till the patient is 25 years old and basic information is kept until the patient is 43 years old. |
| Idaho | No requirement | Clinical lab tests and reports are kept a minimum 5 years after the test. |
| Illinois | No requirement | Minimum 10 years |
| Indiana | Minimum 7 years | Minimum 7 years |
| Iowa | Minimum 7 years after the last service unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 19 years old. | No requirement |
| Kansas | Minimum 10 years from the last service. | Full records are kept for a minimum 10 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 19 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. The summary of the records is kept for a 25 year period. |
| Kentucky | No requirement | Minimum 6 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 21 years old or the 6 year period if that is longer. |
| Louisiana | Minimum 6 years after the last treatment. | Minimum 10 years after discharge. |
| Maine | No requirement | Minimum 7 years unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 24 years old. Written x-ray reports and logs are kept indefinitely. |
| Maryland | Minimum 5 years after the record’s creation unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 21 years old or the 5 year period if that is longer. | Minimum 5 years after the record’s creation unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 21 years old or the 5 year period if that is longer. |
| Massachusetts | Minimum 7 years from the patient’s last encounter unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 18 years old or the 7 year period if that is longer. | Minimum 30 years after discharge or final treatment. |
| Michigan | Minimum 7 years from the last service. | Minimum 7 years from the last service. |
| Minnesota | No requirement | Most medical records are kept permanently. Miscellaneous documents are kept minimum 7 years unless the patient is a minor, in which case the documents are kept till the patient is 25 years old. |
| Mississippi | No requirement | Minimum 10 years after discharge in sound mind and 7 years after discharge at death unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 25 years old. |
| Missouri | Minimum 7 years from the last service. | Minimum 10 years unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 23 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. |
| Montana | No requirement | Minimum 10 years unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 28 years old. |
| Nebraska | No requirement | Minimum 10 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor (under 19), in which case records are kept until the patient is 22 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. |
| Nevada | Minimum 5 years after the creation of the record. | Minimum 5 years after the creation of the record. |
| New Hampshire | Minimum 7 years after the last contact with the patient unless records were transferred to a different provider. | Minimum 7 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 19 years old or the 7 year period if that is longer. |
| New Jersey | Minimum 7 years from the last record entry | Minimum 10 years after the last discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 23 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. Discharge summary sheets must be kept 20 years after discharge. |
| New Mexico | Minimum 10 years after last treatment. | Minimum 10 years after last treatment unless the patient is a minor, in which case records must be kept until the patient is 19 years old. |
| New York | Minimum 6 years unless the patient is a minor, in which case records must be kept until the patient is 19 years old or the 6 year period if that is longer. | Minimum 6 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records must be kept until the patient is 21 years old or the 6 year period if that is longer. |
| North Carolina | No requirement | Minimum 11 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records must be kept until the patient is 30 years old. |
| North Dakota | No requirement | Minimum 10 years after the last treatment unless the patient is a minor, in which case records must be kept until the patient is 21 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. |
| Ohio | Minimum 6 years | Minimum 6 years |
| Oklahoma | No requirement | Minimum 5 years after the patient's last visit unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 21 years old. Records are also kept 3 years after the patient’s death. |
| Oregon | No requirement | Minimum 10 years after discharge. The master patient index is kept indefinitely. |
| Pennsylvania | Minimum 7 years after the last service unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 22 years old or the 7 year period if that is longer. | Minimum 7 years after the last discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 25 years old. |
| Rhode Island | Minimum 5 years unless certain laws or regulations say otherwise. | Minimum 5 years after the last discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 23 years old. |
| South Carolina | Minimum 10 years after the last treatment unless the patient is a minor, in which case it is 13 years after the last treatment. | Minimum 10 years unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 19 years old. |
| South Dakota | When records are inactive or the physician does not know the whereabouts of the patient. | Minimum 10 years after the last care or visit unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 20 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. |
| Tennessee | Minimum 10 years after the last contact with the provider unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 19 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. | Minimum 10 years after the last discharge or death unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 19 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. |
| Texas | Minimum 7 years from the last treatment unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 21 years old or the 7 year period if that is longer. | Minimum 10 years from the last treatment unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 21 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. |
| Utah | No requirement | Minimum 7 years from last treatment unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 22 years old or the 7 year period if that is longer. |
| Vermont | No requirement | Minimum 10 years |
| Virginia | Minimum 6 years after the last patient contact unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 18 years old (or is emancipated) or the 6 year period if that is longer. | Minimum 5 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 23 years old. |
| Washington | No requirement | Minimum 10 years after discharge unless the patient is a minor, in which case records are kept until the patient is 21 years old or the 10 year period if that is longer. |
| West Virginia | No requirement | No requirement |
| Wisconsin | Minimum 5 years after the last record entry. | Minimum 5 years |
| Wyoming | No requirement | No requirement |
