{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-321.187","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 321.187","heading":"Medical recordkeeping -- Access to records.","body":"(1) Each veterinarian or AAHP who provides medical services to animals shall\nmaintain accurate electronic or legibly written medical records that include the\nidentity of the credential holder or authorized representative who makes the entry.\n(2) The information in the medical records are the property of the client, and the client\nhas a right to a copy of those records. The practice where the records were prepared\nshall be the official records custodian. Original patient records shall be retained by\nthe practice, the veterinary facility or AAHP facility where they were prepared, or\nthe veterinarian or AAHP who prepared them and be readily retrievable for a period\nof five (5) years following the last patient encounter. Records stored by a third party\nshall not re lieve the veterinarian or AAHP from the responsibility of supplying\nrecords to the client upon request.\n(3) (a) The veterinarian or AAHP may require that a request for medical records be\nin writing and may charge a reasonable fee for copying or the staff t ime in\npreparing the requested medical records, unless there is a board investigation,\nin which case no charges shall be authorized.\n(b) Copies of the medical records shall be provided to the client, designated\nveterinarian, AAHP, or authorized representat ive within seven (7) calendar\ndays after receipt of a proper request or sooner in accordance with the\npatient's medical condition.\n(c) Failure to provide the medical records in a timely fashion upon proper request\nshall be considered unprofessional conduct.\n(4) All records required by law to be kept by a veterinarian or AAHP shall be open to\ninspection by the board or its authorized representatives, and a copy shall be\nprovided immediately upon request.\n(5) All records shall comply with the requirements set  forth by the board in\nadministrative regulations.\n(6) An animal patient's medical record and medical condition is confidential and may\nnot be furnished to or discussed with any person other than the client or other\nveterinarians, veterinary technicians, v eterinary assistants, veterinary practice staff,\nveterinary students, AAHPs, or consultants involved in the care or treatment of the\npatient, except upon authorization of the client or under the following\ncircumstances:\n(a) Access to the records is specifically required by law, or as described in KRS\n321.185 and 321.188;\n(b) In response to a court order or subpoena with notice given to the client or the\nclient's legal representative;\n(c) For statistical and scientific researc h, if the information is abstracted in a way\nas to protect the identity of the patient and client;\n(d) As part of an inspection or investigation conducted by the board or an agent of\nthe board;\n(e) To verify the rabies vaccination status of an animal to lo cal law enforcement,\nor to state or local health departments;\n(f) In the course of a consultation; and\n(g) As required by other state or federal law.\n(7) A veterinarian or AAHP shall not intentionally create a false record, make a false\nstatement, or alter  or modify any medical record, document, or report concerning\ntreatment of a patient. When correcting a medical record, the original content\nshould be readable, and the alteration shall be clearly identified with the correction,\nreason for correction, date, and author's name.","path":["KRS Chapter 321"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=56281","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:58:16Z","sha256":"8b453cf99d009bf0ab9cdeddf0d03c35a148f2a31eb779ce3d963bad3d3f3fa5","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-321.186","next":"us-ky/krs-321.188"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}