How long should a hospital maintain outpatient medical records?

The retention period for outpatient medical records varies by jurisdiction and medical specialty. For general outpatient care, the following are common retention periods:

- United States: 6-7 years

- United Kingdom: 10 years

- Canada: 10-15 years

- Australia: 7 years

Specialties such as pediatrics, obstetrics, and psychiatry may have different retention periods, with some jurisdictions requiring records to be retained until the patient reaches a certain age or for a specified number of years after the patient's last visit.

It is essential to check with the relevant local regulations and policies to ensure compliance.