Health Records Retention and Disposal in Nigerian Hospitals: Survey of Policies, Practices and Procedures

Abstract

This study examines health records management in Nigerian hospitals with the objective to determining the existence of health record retention and disposal policies and practice and the effect on health records management in Nigeria. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected using a questionnaire administered on the heads of departments of health information in each of the hospitals through direct contacts and emails. A total of twenty hospitals were surveyed across the country out of which eighteen responded. Respondents answered questions on health record management, retention and disposal policies, and these include the responsibility of health information professionals in policy administration, retention periods and its determining factors, as well as other information on disposal and destruction practices. The study reveals that there is no national policy on maintenance, retention, disposal and practice of patients’ health records in Nigerian hospital, resulting to poor management of patients’ health records retention and disposal in hospitals.

Keywords: Retention, Disposal, Health Records, Health Information, Medical Records, Patient Health Records, Health Records Management, Health Records Dormancy