Bob... we are entitiled to our records.
Once in the hospital I demanded (nicely) to see my chart and although it shook everyone up in 1976, they had to let me. I didn't know what the big deal was. Still don't and I'm a nurse. I've never asked to have my R doctor's records of me copied, but she probably would. My primary dr always types it onto her computer program right in front of me so I can correct anything, so I'm positive she wouldn't care in the least. I do keep a binder with copies of all tests, current medications and their literature, my complete medical history and any logs a doctor has asked me to keep for awhile ie dietary or symptoms. It's so helpful for when I go for tests. Next week, when I go for colonoscopy, all I'll have to do is whip out the page of meds and allergies and let them copy it. Anyway, all you have to do is ask. It's true they will fax your records to your other doc, if you sign permission, but I think they are obligated to honor your request to have them for yourself too.
CathyMarie
Oh, and by the way... I don't think this is an OT. It is a medical concern.
CathyMarie
You're entitled to copies of your chart from your physician's office. They may or may not charge you a fee for copying. They can't withold copies of the office notes or any notes or results in the chart. I request a copy of all of my lab, xrays, mris, etc. each time and like CathyMarie I keep an updated file with all pertinent info. I request office notes once a year so I'll have an updated file with me when we travel. I've never had a doctor's office refuse. I think it's really important that you set-up and keep current a health file. LindyYeah, but it's kind of off the topic of RA...sort of. When I was in the hospital in June I demanded to see my lab results because my PCP kept coming in and saying that my white count keeps going up and that I might have leukemia. I told him I want to see the printed lab results immediately! When I looked over all of them, I handed them back to him and said that there is no way I have leukemia even with a white count of 40,000! I'm a Medical Lab Technician and knew from reading the manual diff count that I didn't have leukemia.
I guess this is one of the times it pays to have a good friend that is a lawyer too. I'm going to try and get my records sometime next week.
And if I kept a really nice up-to-date file it would be thicker than Lord of the Rings!!! I've seen it when I go into my PCP's office that sucker is HUGE! But covering say, the last two or three years then keeping up from here on out would be niceI've never asked for copies of my records, so I really don't know. However, when I was no longer covered under my parent's military medical, the hospital there gave me the entire manila file. I had records from birth through age 18! Being young, I didn't think anything of it. And please don't ask me where they are now - I haven't seen them in years! records. I work in a medical office. You have a right to a copy of what is in your chart. Each state has their own regulations as to what a physicians office can charge for copying fees. Look it up on line, in NH it's .00 for the first 30 pages, and .50 per page after that.
If a patient requests copies of their file, I do not charge them. However, if they constantly ask I have no choice. You'd be surprised how many patients get the copies, send them on to a doctor only to call back a month later and ask for another copy. Get the copy from your doctor and you copy them from there if you want to send them on.
If a lawyers office calls for copies, I always charge them.
I do not think you need to get a lawyer involved for copies of your record. Ask, don't demand, sign a release and you should get your copies within a few days.
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justsaynoemore2009-03-14 17:40:06Justsay........just because you had a bad experience, doesn't mean that every other physican's office or hospital is incompetent. It's not a big deal to get a copy of your records and a lawyer is definitely not needed.You know what DebraKay, you are correct. It isn't a big deal to get your medical records. I thought I had a strange experience, not a bad experience. justsaynoemore2009-03-14 17:40:37I needed hospital records - everything from two different hospitals. The hospitals were close by. I filled out the forms in medical records and I was able to pick up the copies within 5 days. I was charged for the copies but for me it was worth paying because I obtained the copies quickly and hand delivered them to the attorney. I was reimbursed by the attorney and I also feel that I got speedier service than the attorney's office would have gotten. I may be wrong in that assumption but it was only 5 days from my request to my attorney's hands. LindyLindy, I can't remember the exact amount of time that the physician's office can take to copy medical records, but again, there are state standards for this.
For me, when someone requests info. from my office, I want to get it off of my plate, so it's done within a day or two at most, regardless of who is asking.
Debra, I think sometimes the delay is with the attorney's offices. They do things systematically and have back logs. Also, employees are out sick, on vacation, etc. and many offices including medical records can be swamped with requests. You never know where you'll be in the process. By the time they get the request off their desks and to the hospital it's another week added onto the wait time. Also, if you pick up the records then you don't have to deal with the mail time. These are ways that I've used to speed up the process and they worked for me. LindyI had a friend who worked for a company that went to drs. offices with a scanner and scanned medical records on site for attorneys and, I think, insurance cos. But I'm sure attorneys were their main clients. The office staff pulled everything and she went in and scanned the stack once or twice a week.
No doubt, picking up your records is the way to go. I was just saying that there are regulations with that too, so the dr.'s office or hospital only has so much time to get the request done once the release is signed.
As far as attorneys are concerned, they ask for updated records on a regular basis if they have a case going on. The charges are past on to their clients for copying records. Unfortunately, sometimes the request states they want all records each time they request which costs their clients (the patients) more money. It's great when we get a request stating...."please send records from this date on..." as it saves everyone money.
I suppose that I have been fortunate...never met with any inexplicable delays or complications when requesting medical records. I have had to pay for some records, but did not find the rate exorbitant nor unexpected. It takes time to pull records, more time to copy them, more time to prepare them for either pick up or mailing to say nothing of the cost of scanning/copying.
I am a true believer that the only health or illness care advocate we have is ourselves and that having a copy of our medical history is important to getting the best care possible. However having those copies is just the beginning. It takes time and effort to become familiar with what they contain.
I have a two-drawer file cabinet in which I keep medical records and research. I am not the most organized person, so having a system is vital for me.
Best wishes, Shug
I'm proud to say that I'm now so organized, I have doctors ask me for copies!
But I did learn it the hard way, and there are a couple things I need to replace that never made it back into my hands after I shared it. I welcome EMR.
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