What this guide helps you do
Archiving and deleting are not interchangeable. Archive a patient when the record should leave normal day-to-day lists but may need to be used again. Permanent deletion is irreversible and removes most patient information, so it is available only after the patient has been archived.
- Archive an active patient
- Find and restore an archived patient
- Understand what permanent deletion removes
- Complete the typed-name confirmation safely
Before you begin
- Check your clinic’s legal and record-retention obligations.
- Confirm the patient using more than their name.
- Resolve accidental duplicates or uncertain identity before continuing.
Archive a patient
Find and confirm the patient
Search and select the patient, then verify the patient ID and another identifier in the preview.
Choose Archive
Confirm the archive action. The patient leaves active results but the record is retained.
Find the record later
Choose the Archived filter on the patient list. Archived records appear muted.
Restore an archived patient
Show archived patients
On the patient list, choose Archived and search for the person.
Review the preview
Confirm you have the correct record.
Choose Unarchive
The patient becomes active and returns to normal patient searches and workflows.
Permanently delete a patient
Delete appears only for an archived patient. The confirmation lists the consequences before the final button is enabled.
Open Delete
Select an archived patient and choose Delete.
Read the full warning
Treatment notes, letters, forms, attachments, communication history, medical alerts, health records, vital signs, consent forms, and recalls are permanently deleted.
Understand retained financial history
Invoices and payments are retained for financial records. Appointments are de-identified and removed from the calendar.
Type the patient’s full name
Enter the exact full name shown in the confirmation. Matching is not case-sensitive, but the name itself must match.
Delete only when certain
Choose Delete. There is no undo.
Things worth knowing
- Deleting a patient does not delete retained invoices and payments.
- Because appointments are de-identified and removed from the calendar, confirm operational and record-retention consequences before deleting.
- If you cannot see Delete, confirm that the patient is already archived and that your access allows the action.