Arizona State Board Of Optometry Practice Exam

Within how many business days must a licensee provide a patient's records after receiving a written request?

1. Three days

2. Five days

3. Seven days

4. Ten days

The correct answer is: Five days

According to regulations that govern the practice of optometry in Arizona, licensees are required to provide a patient's records within five business days of receiving a written request from the patient. This timeframe is outlined to ensure that patients have timely access to their own medical records, which is an important aspect of patient rights and healthcare transparency. Timely access to medical records allows patients to be informed about their health history and treatments, which promotes better engagement in their care. Additionally, this time limit helps to facilitate communication between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring that any necessary follow-up or care can be coordinated without undue delay. The specific requirement of five business days strikes a balance between the need for prompt service and the realities of administrative processes that healthcare providers encounter when retrieving and preparing records. This consideration is important in maintaining both the integrity of patient care and operational efficiency in the practice of optometry.