Which entity owns outpatient records?

Which entity owns outpatient records?

• A. United States Government
• B. Patient
• C. Medical treatment facility
• D. Records custodian

Answer: (A)

Outpatient records are owned by the healthcare entity that creates and maintains them—the medical treatment facility, acting as the records custodian. This means the facility holds the records, is responsible for their storage and protection, and governs who can access or disclose them. Patients aren’t the owners of the records themselves; they have rights to inspect and obtain copies, request amendments, and control disclosures, but ownership stays with the custodian facility. The United States Government would own records only in government-run settings, not in typical outpatient clinics.

Outpatient records are owned by the healthcare entity that creates and maintains them—the medical treatment facility, acting as the records custodian. This means the facility holds the records, is responsible for their storage and protection, and governs who can access or disclose them. Patients aren’t the owners of the records themselves; they have rights to inspect and obtain copies, request amendments, and control disclosures, but ownership stays with the custodian facility. The United States Government would own records only in government-run settings, not in typical outpatient clinics.