// RECORDS MANAGEMENT

HAWAII MEDICAL RECORDS CUSTODIAN

Retiring or Closing Your Medical Practice in Hawaii?

We Handle Your Patient Records – Legally and Securely

Are you retiring or shutting down your medical practice in Hawaii? One of the most important — and often overlooked — responsibilities is managing your patient medical records in compliance with HIPAA and Hawaii state law.

As your trusted Medical Records Custodian, we make sure your patient records are properly secured, accessible, and legally managed — so you can walk away with peace of mind.

Medical Records Custodian Services

Medical Record Requirements for Retiring Doctors in Hawaii

Even after retirement, you’re still legally responsible for medical record retention and release unless you designate a proper custodian.

Whether you’re a solo practitioner in Honolulu or part of a group practice on Maui or the Big Island, if you’re closing your doors, Hawaii law requires you to retain and provide access to patient records for a specific period—an essential part of understanding how to store patient records after retirement in Hawaii.

Hawaii Medical Record Retention Laws

Medical records in Hawaii must be retained and preserved for a period of 7 years after the last treatment

  • Medical records for minors must be kept for the age of minority plus 7 years after the patient reaches the age of majority

Read the official Hawaii medical records regulations here.

What Happens to Patient Records When a Doctor Retires?

When you close your practice in Hawaii, you are responsible for:

  • Notifying patients about how they can obtain their records
  • Securely storing all patient files according to medical retention in HI law
  • Fulfilling patient medical record requests for the full retention period

That’s where Emerald steps in. As a professional third-party HIPAA record custodian service in HI, we:

Take possession of your physical and/or digital records

Set up a HIPAA-compliant system for patient record requests

Handle all ongoing medical record release requests

Provide documentation for regulatory and legal protection

emerald medical records custodian

Our Hawaii Medical Records Custodian Services

We work with physicians, dentists, chiropractors, mental health professionals, and other licensed providers across Hawaii.

Our comprehensive medical record custodian services in Hawaii include:

  • Pickup or scanning of physical records from your office
  • HIPAA-compliant storage (cloud-based or physical)
  • Secure access portals for patients and legal requesters
  • Automated fulfillment of record requests
  • Legal documentation to protect your liability post-retirement

We serve clients across Honolulu, East Honolulu, Hilo, Pearl City, Waipahu, Kailua, Kāne‘ohe, Kahului, and communities throughout the state of Hawaii.

medical records custodian hawaii

FAQS For Medical Records Custodian Services in Hawaii

Pricing depends on the volume of records and whether scanning is required. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.

We handle both! We can scan paper files and take over management of EMR archives.

Yes. While the law doesn’t specify exactly how, it’s considered best practice — and often necessary — to send letters, emails, or publish a notice letting patients know how they can obtain their medical records.

Technically yes, but it exposes you to legal and security risks. It also puts the ongoing burden of manually releasing patient records on you. Most physicians opt to work with a professional custodian to offload liability and simplify the record request process.

Ready to Retire or Close Your Practice? We’ll Handle the Records.

Don’t let medical record obligations hold up your retirement. Whether you’re planning months in advance or closing your practice soon, we can help you transition smoothly and legally.

Contact us today to learn more about our Medical Records Custodian services and ensure a smooth transition for your practice.​

Or give us a call at (631)-435-2900