Is it acceptable to store patients medical records in an off-site commercial storage unit (the type that anyone can rent for any purpose) instead of using a professional document storage company?
MMIC recommends using only professional document storage companies for off-site record storage. General commercial storage units do not provide the same level of security as a document storage company. Additionally, most professional storage companies are designed with environmental control systems to protect the records from damage due to moisture and temperature extremes. The fire protection systems in professional record storage companies utilize fire suppression techniques that do not cause additional damage to the records in the event of a fire. Please see our practice tip for additional information on record retention.
