Final answer:
The Joint Commission sets the official record retention standards for hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is True. The Joint Commission (JC), formerly known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), is a non-profit organization that sets the official record retention standards for hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the United States.
The JC develops and enforces standards that healthcare organizations must meet in order to receive accreditation. These standards cover a wide range of areas, including record keeping and retention. The JC's standards help ensure that healthcare organizations maintain accurate and comprehensive records, which are essential for patient care, legal purposes, and quality improvement.
By complying with the JC's record retention standards, healthcare facilities can ensure that medical records are securely maintained for an appropriate period of time, which can vary based on state regulations. This helps protect patient privacy, supports continuity of care, facilitates research, and enables healthcare organizations to respond to legal and regulatory requirements.