Final answer:
Healthcare providers are typically advised to keep patient records for a minimum of 7 years to meet legal and regulatory requirements, ensure continuity of care, and support research and analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the healthcare industry, it is generally recommended to keep patient records for a minimum of 7 years.
This duration is required to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as for continuity of care and potential future reference.
Keeping records for this length of time allows healthcare providers to maintain accurate and complete medical histories, track trends, and analyze data for research purposes.