The six-year record retention requirement starts from which date?

• A. Date of last treatment
• B. Date the patient is last seen
• C. Date the chart is created
• D. Date of patient discharge

Answer: (B)

Six-year record retention is tied to the flow of patient care, so the clock starts when the patient is last seen. That moment marks the end of the clinician-patient care episode, which is the point from which documentation may need to be referenced for future issues, audits, or liability. Starting from the chart’s creation would not reflect when care actually concluded, since a chart can be opened or updated long before any treatment occurs. The discharge date can align with the last visit but isn’t as precise a marker as the last time the patient was seen, which best represents the end of the care you provided.