And sometimes pragmatism: here in Texas, the retention period for vaccines is long than that for the rest of the pediatric patient record- it is just too labor intensive to go through old charts and pull vaccine records, so we end up storing everything longer.Īs you are no doubt aware, it is important that your practice follows the documented policy you develop for retention and destruction. The final decision will usually be a combination of state and medical board guidelines, legal recommendations, and the risk tolerance of the physicians. If there is some sort of legal inquiry, and a record has been destroyed, your practice will want to show that the record was destroyed in the normal course of business following your practice's medical records policy and NOT as a result of receiving notice of a lawsuit.Īustin, Message Original Message- Just to add an additional consideration to what others have said about state laws, etc.: it is helpful to check with your malpractice carrier. And sometimes pragmatism: here in Texas, the retention period for vaccines is longer than that for the rest of the pediatric patient record- it is just too labor intensive to go through old charts and pull vaccine records, so we end up storing everything longer.Īs you are no doubt aware, it is important that your practice follows the documented policy you develop for retention and destruction.

Then it is important to review the retention and destruction recommendations with the physician-owners of the practice. This guide provides technical assistance for health care professionals, schools, preschools, childcare, and family daycare operators.Just to add an additional consideration to what others have said about state laws, etc.: it is helpful to check with your malpractice carrier.īecause pediatrics has a long look-back period for any perceived malpractice issues, the malpractice carrier can give you advice on what is preferred from their standpoint. Immunization Requirements for Children Entering or Attending Childcare, Family Daycare, Preschool, or School Florida immunization requirements are found in Immunization Guidelines: Florida Schools, Childcare Facilities, and Family Daycare Homes, which is incorporated by reference in Chapter 64D-3.046, Florida Administrative Code. Health care providers may obtain these forms by contacting their local County Health Department. You can also provide parents with a personal wallet-sized immunization record similar to Form DH 686 Immunization Record. Parents can also access their child's certified Form DH 680 by obtaining a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from their child's health care provider. A Form DH 680, Florida Certification of Immunization, certified with electronic signature, may be printed by enrolled health care providers and is also accessible to any school, licensed childcare facility, or daycare center enrolled in the Florida SHOTS™. The Florida SHOTS™ (State Health Online Tracking System) is a free, statewide, centralized online immunization registry that assists health care providers, schools, and parents with keeping track of immunization records. The Immunization Section offers a variety of methods to deliver accurate, timely records to your patients.

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