Final answer:
In Maryland, prescription records must be kept for at least five years from the date of dispensing, crucial for legal compliance and patient safety, especially for elderly and disabled populations who heavily rely on such medications.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the state of Maryland (MD), prescription records must be kept for a minimum of five years from the date of dispensing. This requirement ensures that there is a proper log for the dispensation of prescription drugs, which is crucial for both legal compliance and patient safety. It is an important aspect of pharmaceutical practice that pharmacists manage these records diligently, partly in response to the recognition that the elderly and disabled, who may receive benefits under programs such as introduced by the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003, are often those who are taking multiple prescription medications.