Upon what condition can a facility refuse to provide access to a resident's full medical records?

A facility can refuse access to a resident's full medical records if those records are deemed to be the current active clinical records. This is because current active clinical records often contain ongoing treatment information, assessments, and notes from healthcare providers that are critical for current medical decision-making. The rationale for limiting access may stem from the need to protect the integrity of patient care and ensure that any medical decisions are based on the latest, most relevant information.

In many healthcare settings, there are specific protocols in place to safeguard these records while ensuring that patients and authorized individuals can access their information appropriately. Therefore, the restriction on access to current active clinical records is generally grounded in maintaining the quality and continuity of care provided to the resident, as well as in compliance with healthcare regulations that govern patient information privacy and security.