// RECORDS MANAGEMENT

NEW MEXICO MEDICAL RECORDS CUSTODIAN

Retiring or Closing Your Medical Practice in New Mexico?

We Handle Your Patient Records – Legally and Securely

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

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 Albuquerque or part of a group practice in Santa Fe, if you’re closing your doors, New Mexico law requires you to retain and provide access to patient records for a specific period—an essential part of understanding how to properly store patient records after retirement in New Mexico.

New Mexico Medical Record Retention Laws

Medical records in New Mexico must be kept for a period of 10 years after the last treatment.

  • For minors, records must be kept until the patient reaches the age of 21.

Read the official New Mexico medical records regulations here.

What Happens to Patient Records When a Doctor Retires?

When you close your practice in New Mexico, you are responsible for:

  • Notifying patients about how they can obtain their records
  • Securely storing all patient files according to medical retention in NM 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 NM, 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 New Mexico Medical Records Custodian Services

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

Our comprehensive medical record custodian services in New Mexico 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 Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Roswell, Farmington, and communities throughout New Mexico.

medical records custodian new mexico

FAQS For Medical Records Custodian Services in New Mexico

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