Federal Nursing Home Administrator Practice Exam

Who owns the medical records in a nursing home facility?

1. The resident

2. The hospital system

3. The facility

4. The government

The correct answer is: The facility

In a nursing home facility, the medical records are owned by the facility itself. This reflects the legal structure surrounding health information management in healthcare settings. While residents have rights to access their own medical records and obtain copies, the actual records are created and maintained by the facility. This ownership is important for compliance with regulations related to privacy, security, and the management of healthcare data. The facility is responsible for maintaining accurate, up-to-date medical records, which includes safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring it is accessible to authorized personnel when needed. Additionally, this allows the facility to coordinate care, provide necessary documentation for billing and reimbursement, and manage healthcare oversight as required by federal and state regulations. The other options do not align with the established legal framework regarding the ownership of medical records. For instance, while hospitals that admit residents may maintain certain medical records, they do not own the records generated by the nursing home care. Similarly, the government does not own the medical records but rather regulates and monitors how they are kept and accessed to protect patient privacy and inform policy.