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216-RICR-40-10-17.6.5 & 17.6.2 — Clinical Records and Confidentiality

Rhode IslandregulationRhode Island Department of Health· effective 2024-05-06

What this rule requires your agency to do

  • 1Maintain written policies governing use, removal, and release of records consistent with confidentiality statutes (17.6.5(D)).(216-RICR-40-10-17.6.5 & 17.6.2 — Clinical Records and Confidentiality)
  • 2Subject all disclosure of health care information to the Confidentiality of Health Care Communication and Information Act, R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-37.3, and other relevant requirements (17.6.2(A)).(216-RICR-40-10-17.6.5 & 17.6.2 — Clinical Records and Confidentiality)
  • 3Complete an approved "Continuity of Care" form for each patient discharged to another health care facility and provide it to the receiving facility prior to, upon transfer, or at discharge (17.6.5(B)).(216-RICR-40-10-17.6.5 & 17.6.2 — Clinical Records and Confidentiality)
  • 4Document each patient contact, changes and reviews of the plan of care signed by the responsible professional, any executed advance directive, and discharge summaries (17.6.5(A)(5)-(8)).(216-RICR-40-10-17.6.5 & 17.6.2 — Clinical Records and Confidentiality)
  • 5Keep accurate, complete clinical records for each patient in an accessible location, containing the enumerated data including identifying data, referral source, attending clinician, and the original plan of care with personal-care and homemaker objectives (17.6.5(A)(1)-(4)).(216-RICR-40-10-17.6.5 & 17.6.2 — Clinical Records and Confidentiality)
  • 6Retain records at least seven years following discharge (and at least seven years after a minor patient turns 18), safeguarded against loss or unauthorized use, including electronic records (17.6.5(C)(1)).(216-RICR-40-10-17.6.5 & 17.6.2 — Clinical Records and Confidentiality)

Applies to: personal care

Requires accurate, complete clinical records for each patient with enumerated contents (identifying data, referral source, attending clinician, original plan of care with personal-care and homemaker objectives, documentation of each contact, plan-of-care reviews, advance directives, discharge summaries), continuity-of-care documentation on transfer, record retention of at least seven years (or seven years past a minor's 18th birthday), safeguarding, and written record-release policies; and subjects disclosure of health information to the Confidentiality of Health Care Communication and Information Act. Framework topic: Records / Clinical Records and Confidentiality.

Regulatory information, not legal advice — always confirm against the cited official source. Verification reduces error; it does not certify compliance.