Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1799MM – Recordkeeping
(a) A person licensed under this chapter who is discontinuing practice in this State or who is leaving this State and who is not transferring client records to another person licensed to practice midwifery or medicine shall notify that person’s clients of record by publishing a notice to that effect in a newspaper of daily circulation in the area where the person practices. The notice must be published at least 1 time per month over a 3-month period in advance of discontinuing the business or leaving the State and must explain how a client can procure that client’s records. All clients of record who have not requested their records 30 days before the person discontinues the practice or leaves the State must be notified by first-class mail by the person to permit that person’s clients to procure their records. Any client records that have not been procured within 7 years after the person discontinues practice or leaves the State may be permanently disposed of in a manner that ensures confidentiality of the records.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1799MM
- Board: means the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1799FF
- Client: means a woman under the care of a midwife and, when applicable in the context of care, the newborn. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1799FF
- Midwifery: means the practice of providing supervision, care, and advice to a client during prepartum, pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum periods, and conducting deliveries on the midwife's own responsibility or in collaboration with a licensed physician, or licensed Delaware health-care delivery system. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1799FF
- Month: means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
(b) If a person licensed under this chapter dies and has not transferred client records to another person licensed to practice midwifery or medicine and has not made provisions for a transfer of client records to occur upon the person’s death, a personal representative of the person’s estate shall notify the person’s clients of record by publishing a notice to that effect in a newspaper of daily circulation in the area where the person practiced. The notice must be published at least 1 time per month over a 3-month period after the person’s death and must explain how a former client can procure the client’s records. All former clients who have not requested their records 30 days after such publication must be notified by first class mail by the personal representative of the estate to permit the clients to procure their records. Any client records that have not been procured within 7 years after the death of the person may be permanently disposed of in a manner that ensures confidentiality of the records.
(c) If a client changes from the care of 1 person licensed to practice midwifery or medicine to another person certified to practice midwifery or medicine, the former person shall transfer a copy of the records of the client to the current person upon the request of either the current person or the client. The former person may charge for the reasonable expenses of copying the client’s records, according to a payment schedule established by the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. The actual cost of postage or shipping may also be charged if the records are mailed. Alternatively, if the client and current person agree, the former person may forward to the current person a summary of the client’s record, in lieu of transferring the entire record, at no charge to the client. If a client changes care from 1 person certified to practice midwifery or medicine to another and fails to notify the former person, or leaves the care of the former person for a period of 7 years from the last entry date on the client’s record and fails to notify the former person, or fails to request the transfer of records to the current person, then the former person shall maintain the client’s records for a period of 7 years from the last entry date in the client’s medical record, after which time the records may be permanently disposed of in a manner that insures confidentiality of the records.
(d) Clients, on their own behalf, shall have the right to obtain a copy of their records from any person certified to practice midwifery or medicine according to a payment schedule established by the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. The actual cost of postage or shipping may also be charged if the records are mailed.