---
title: "Patient Records"
description: "How to access and manage patient records in NICE HMS — complete visit history, encounter details, prescriptions, lab reports, and document management."
date: 2026-07-19
lastModified: 2026-07-22
category: "patient-management"
author: "Dr. Umesh Bilagi"
beta: true
---

## Overview

Patient Records centralizes everything about a patient — demographics, visit history, prescriptions, lab reports, radiology images, bills, and ABDM-linked data. It's the single source of truth for patient information.

## Accessing Patient Records

1. Search for the patient using the top search bar (enter ID) or **Patient > Search | Edit | Delete Patient**.
2. Click the patient's ID from the results.
3. The patient management page opens with tabs for different record types.

## Record Types

| Tab | Contains |
|-----|----------|
| **Demographics** | Name, DOB, gender, mobile, address, ABHA link status |
| **OPD Visits** | All OPD registrations and encounters with prescriptions |
| **IPD Admissions** | All admissions, discharge summaries, IPD chart |
| **Lab Reports** | All lab test orders and results |
| **Radiology** | All imaging orders, reports, and images |
| **Prescriptions** | Chronological list of all prescriptions |
| **Bills** | All bills and payment history |
| **Documents** | Uploaded documents (referral letters, insurance forms, etc.) |

## Patient Record Types (Configurable)

Organizations can configure how records are categorized:
- **Patient Record** — Clinical documents
- **Lab Report** — Lab results
- **Radiology Report** — Imaging reports

These categories control how records are grouped and printed.

## Printing Patient Records

1. From the patient management page, select the records to print.
2. Choose the record type filter.
3. Click **Print Records**.
4. Records are compiled into a PDF with the configured letter pad header.

## Record Archival

Patient records can be archived (soft-deleted) rather than permanently deleted:
- Archived records are hidden from normal views but retained.
- Archives can be accessed via the **Archive** filter.
- Useful for patients who haven't visited in years but whose records must be retained for legal/compliance reasons.

## Merging Duplicate Patients

If duplicate patient records exist, use the merge feature. See [Merging Duplicate Patients](/docs/merging-duplicate-patients) for rules, encounter behavior, accounting, and step-by-step instructions.

## FAQ

**Q: Can I export a patient's complete record?**
A: Yes. Use the print function to generate a PDF of all selected records. For data export (CSV/Excel), use the Reports module.

**Q: How long are patient records retained?**
A: Indefinitely, unless explicitly deleted. We recommend archiving rather than deleting for compliance.