Compose your thoughts on how you would handle the situation as the manager of the health information services department.

1. Suppose you are the HIM Director at a large medical center that offers inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care at several sites in one state. Your medical center has announced that it will acquire a facility offering similar services in a neighboring state. The laws and regulations governing the retention and destruction of health records differ between these states.

How does the lack of a consistent set of laws and regulations on these two matters affects the institution you serve, and outline the steps you would take to deal with the situation?