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Physician Contract Glossary · Ownership & Partnership

Ownership of Medical Records

This clause decides who owns patient records and what access you have to them after you leave.

In nearly all employment arrangements, the practice or hospital owns the medical records, not the treating physician. This clause confirms that and sets what access, if any, you retain after departure. It matters for continuity of care, for defending against future malpractice claims, and for any non-solicitation question about contacting former patients.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Confirm you retain reasonable access to records for patients you treated, at minimum for malpractice defense. Losing all access to your own clinical documentation can leave you defenseless if a claim surfaces years later.

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