For how many years must records of quality assurance reviews be kept?

Records of quality assurance reviews must be kept for three years to align with the requirements set forth by various pharmacy practice regulations. This retention period allows organizations to maintain a comprehensive history of their quality assurance efforts, enabling them to evaluate trends, implement necessary improvements, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. This duration strikes a balance between allowing sufficient time for auditors and inspectors to review practices and maintaining manageable record-keeping requirements for pharmacy operations. Such a policy ultimately supports enhancing patient safety and the overall quality of pharmacy services.

When considering the other options, shorter retention periods like one or two years may not provide enough information for thorough historical assessments, while five years might be perceived as excessive for standard operations without specific regulatory requirements demanding such an extensive timeframe.