True or False: Once a patient's records are electronically input, they may be destroyed.

The statement that once a patient's records are electronically input, they may be destroyed is not accurate. In California, as well as in many other jurisdictions, patient records are subject to laws regarding retention periods. Health care providers, including chiropractors, are generally required to maintain patient records for a specified period, typically several years after the last treatment date or longer if the patient is a minor.

The rationale behind retaining these records is to ensure that there is adequate documentation available for ongoing patient care, legal purposes, or potential inquiries regarding the treatment provided. Simply inputting the data electronically does not negate the need to preserve the physical or original records for the required duration.

Therefore, the correct understanding is that patient records must be kept for a mandated period before they can be legally destroyed, and it typically requires adherence to specific guidelines, including legal review, rather than being automatically destroyable upon digitization.