ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses general factors that help guide clinicians for retaining and destroying inactive client records: legal requirements, ethical requirements of professional organizations, needs of clients and continuity of care and issues associated with licensure board complaints, lawsuits, and litigation. It provides practical guidelines for how to effectively and efficiently maintain and dispose of clinical records. Therapists should be familiar with state and federal regulations that govern retention and destruction of health care records. Most mental health professional organizations address the need for careful policies and procedures regarding retaining and disposing of records, and emphasize the need to maintain client confidentiality in both practices. Governmental regulations and ethical guidelines are two factors to consider when developing practice policies and procedures for maintaining and disposing of records, and therapists and their organizations should also keep in mind the importance of their patients’ potential clinical needs and continuity of care.
