The American Psychological Association' s Revised "Record Keeping Guidelines": Implications for the Practitioner

The American Psychological Association recently revised its "Record Keeping Guidelines" (APA, 2007) in order to help psychologists determine the most up-to-date and appropriate methods for developing, maintaining, protecting, disclosing, and disposing of clinical documentation. The authors explore the interrelation of the revised RKG with the mandatory guidance of the APA's "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" (APA, 2002) and with the requirements of state and federal law, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, 1996). These substantial ethical and legal correlates underscore the critical importance of managing clinical documentation carefully in an era of evolving technologies.