Florida Administrative Code
64 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
64B18 - Board of Podiatric Medicine
Chapter 64B18-15 - MEDICAL RECORDS OF PODIATRIC PHYSICIAN WHO DIES, TERMINATES HIS PRACTICE OR RELOCATES; RETENTION; TIME LIMITATIONS
Section 64B18-15.001 - Medical Records of Podiatric Physician Who Dies, Terminates Practice or Relocates; Retention; Time Limitations; Definition

(1) The executor, administrator, personal representative or survivor of a deceased podiatric physician licensed pursuant to Chapter 461, F.S., shall retain medical records in existence upon the death of the podiatric physician concerning any patient of the podiatric physician for at least a period of two (2) years from the date of the death of the podiatric physician.

(2) Within one (1) month from the date of death of the podiatric physician, the executor, administrator, personal representative or survivor of the deceased podiatric physician shall cause to be published in the newspaper of greatest general circulation in the county where the podiatric physician maintained his office, a notice indicating to the patients of the deceased podiatrist that the podiatric physician medical records are available to the patients or their duly constituted representative from a specific person at a certain location.

(3) At the conclusion of a twenty-two (22) month period of time from the date of the publication required in subsection (2), above, or thereafter, the executor, administrator, personal representative, or survivor shall cause to be published once during each week for four (4) consecutive weeks, in the newspaper of greatest general circulation in the county where the podiatric physician maintained his office, a notice indicating to the patients of the deceased podiatric physician that the podiatric physician's medical records will be disposed of or destroyed one (1) month or later from the last day of the fourth week of publication.

(4) A podiatric physician licensed pursuant to Chapter 461, F.S., who terminates his practice or relocates and is no longer available to his patients shall ensure that the medical records which pertain to his patients are retained for at least 2 years following such termination of practice or relocation.

(5) A podiatric physician licensed pursuant to Chapter 461, F.S., who terminates his practice or relocates and is no longer available to his patients and who does not transfer his practice to another podiatric physician or physician shall provide written notice of such termination or relocation by U.S. Mail to all patients who have received treatment within the sixty (60) days prior to the termination or relocation and who require active, ongoing treatment. The notice shall inform the patients that the podiatric physician's medical records are available to the patients or their duly constituted representative from a specific person at a certain location.

(6) In all other cases, at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of a podiatric physician's termination of practice or relocation, the podiatric physician shall cause to be published once during each week for four (4) consecutive weeks, in the newspaper of greatest general circulation in the county where the podiatric physician maintains his office, a notice indicating to the patients of such podiatric physician that the podiatric physician's medical records are available to the patients or their duly constituted representative from a specific person at a certain location.

(7) At the conclusion of a twenty-two (22) month period of time from the date of the podiatric physician's termination of practice or relocation, or thereafter, the podiatric physician shall cause to be published once during each week for four (4) consecutive weeks, in the newspaper of greatest general circulation in the county where the podiatric physician maintained his office, a notice indicating to the patients of the podiatric physician that the podiatric physician's medical records will be disposed of or destroyed one (1) month or later from the last day of the fourth week of publication.

(8) Except as provided in subsections (1)-(7), of this rule, a podiatric physician shall maintain medical records for at least four (4) years after the date of the patient's last appointment with the podiatric physician.

(9) As used in this rule, "medical records" consist of all information about the patient that is written by the physician or the physician's staff. Medical records also include written information provided by the patient to the physician or the physician's staff, x-rays, copies of reports, and copies of all bills and insurance claims.