Guide to Business Records Retention Requirements

O.C.G.A. Title 37 -- MENTAL HEALTH

ALCOHOLICS AND DRUG USERS, TREATMENT OF
MENTAL ILLNESS, TREATMENT OF
MENTALLY RETARDED, HABILITATION OF THE

Alcoholics and Drug Users, Treatment of

Citation: O.C.G.A. Section 37-7-166 Maintenance, confidentiality, and release of clinical records; disclosure of confidential or privileged patient information.
Regulating Agency: Department of Human Resources.
Requirement: To maintain a clinical record for each alcoholic or drug dependent patient.
Persons Affected: Any hospital or facility within the State of Georgia approved by the Department of Human Resources for the purpose of diagnosis, care, treatment, or hospitalization of persons who are alcoholics, or drug dependent individuals, or drug abusers.
Retention Period: Not specified.

Mental Illness, Treatment of

Citation: O.C.G.A. Section 37-3-166 Maintenance, confidentiality, and release of clinical records generally; authority of examining physician to give evidence as to confidential communications; scope of privileged communications; liability of persons disclosing information; notice to sheriff of discharge.
Regulating Agency: Division of Mental Health and Mental Retardation of the Department of Human Resources and the Board of Human Resources.
Requirement: To maintain a clinical record as to each mentally ill patient. [NOTE: O.C.G.A. Section 37-3-1(2) defines "clinical record" as a written record pertaining to an individual patient including all medical records, progress notes, charts, admission and discharge data, and all other information which is recorded by a facility or other entities responsible for a patient's care and treatment under O.C.G.A. Title 37, Chapter 3 and which pertains to the patient's hospitalization and treatment.]
Persons Affected: Any hospital or facility with the State of Georgia approved by the Department of Human Resources for the purpose of diagnosis, care, treatment, or hospitalization of persons who are mentally ill.
Retention Period: Not specified.

Mentally Retarded, Habilitation of the

Citation: O.C.G.A. Section 37-4-125 Maintenance, confidentiality, and release of clinical records generally; authority of examining physician to given evidence as to matters concerning client; scope of privileged communications.
Regulating Agency: Division of Mental Health and Mental Retardation of the Department of Human Resources and the Board of Human Resources.
Requirement: To maintain a clinical record for each mentally retarded client. [NOTE: O.C.G.A. Section 37-3-1(2) defines "clinical record" as a written record pertaining to an individual patient including all medical records, progress notes, charts, admission and discharge data, and all other information which is recorded by a facility or other entities responsible for a patient's care and treatment under O.C.G.A. Title 37, Chapter 3 and which pertains to the patient's hospitalization and treatment.]
Persons Affected: Any facility within the State of Georgia approved by the Department of Human Resources for the purpose of 24-hour-a-day habilitation and residence of persons who are mentally retarded.
Retention Period: Not specified.