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N.J. STAT. ANN. § 26:8-5 - Institutional records
Link to the law
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Current as of January 2016
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Hospitals must retain medical records for 10 years following a patient’s discharge. If the patient is a minor, until the patient reaches the age of 23. A discharge summary including the patient’s contact information, dates of admission and discharge and summary of treatment must be retained for 20 years. Any x-ray films must be retained for 5 years.
A physician must enter in to each record the nature of the patient’s disease, and an opinion regarding how it was contracted. The information in the records should be obtained from the individual when possible, and from relatives, friends or other acquaintances.
Current as of January 2016