Medical Records: More Than the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

It is the responsibility of each organization, including private practice businesses, to maintain a comprehensive medical records retention policy. While registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are qualified and competent business owners, navigating through the challenges of proper medical record management can be difficult without a sound policy. A comprehensive medical record retention policy consists of 4 major components: creation, utilization, maintenance, and destruction as well as a retention schedule. Successful implementation of a comprehensive medical record retention policy promotes positive clinician-patient interaction and avoidance of potential legal ramifications.

Essential Academy Resources Support Quality and Expand Practice.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) develops and maintains foundational documents that apply to all registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs): Scope of Practice for the RDN and NDTR; Standards of Practice in Nutrition Care and Standards of Professional Performance for RDNs and NDTRs; and the Academy and the Commission on Dietetic Registration Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession. The Quality Management Committee of the Academy has developed resources that assist RDNs and NDTRs in understanding how to work to the fullest extent of their individual scope of practice to increase professional satisfaction, achieve future employment and position goals, and provide safe and reliable services. These resources are the definition of terms list, practice tips and case studies, and scope of practice decision algorithm, which build on Academy foundational documents. They support quality practice by answering questions such as "how can I become more autonomous in my practice" and "how can I use telehealth technology in my practice?" The foundational Academy documents and practice application resources assist all RDNs and NDTRs in recognizing their individual competence and practicing within their scope of practice.