steelfire95
Stranger
Reged: 07/17/02
Posts: 9
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How difficult is it to get your medical records from your doctor? What are the kinds of reasons you give for requesting them, especially if you would like to continue your relationship with them?
Thanks.
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mpcagh
Member
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 130
Loc: California
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You should'nt have to give a reason to get copies of your medical records--after all, they are your medical records. If you want to give a reason, say that you are creating a personal medical file for your own reference. Good luck!
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"There's a fine line between love and hate, and a mile full of lessons in between." William M. Siegel, Jr.
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mpcagh
Member
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 130
Loc: California
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Also, to get your medical records is very easy. You usually just fill out a form, and sometimes you can just request them over the phone and ask that they mail them to you (most likely you will have to sign something though). Most if the time you will deal only with the receptionist, so you doctor may not even know. I hope this helps!
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"There's a fine line between love and hate, and a mile full of lessons in between." William M. Siegel, Jr.
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D2003
Member
Reged: 12/12/03
Posts: 193
Loc: Texas
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My understanding of US law in this area is this: By law, you have the RIGHT to have copies of your medical records. Some places may charge you a nominal copying fee, but they *must* give those records to you on request. You don't even have to state a reason for wanting them, although I have used the 'creating a personal medical file' reason a time or two myself. (I've change doctors several times as I have moved from place to place in my state. Having my records, all of them, makes sense for someone like me.)
No doctor's office is permitted, under US law, to deny you a copy of your records. They are about you, and they are yours for the asking. In most situations, it is not difficult to get them at all. Every once in a while, you strike a doctor who thinks you shouldn't have your records, and hopes you don't know anything about the law....so they try to get away with it. (Sometimes, they write stuff in there that will raise your blood pressure no end, and they don't want you to see some less than nice comment they may have added to your file.)
But the bottom line is really simple. Your records, you can have them. This right is written into US law. I just don't have the relevant sections of this law at my finger tips. Try google.com to find a copy of this law, print it, and if needed, wave it at whoever to show that you DO know the law and they have no right to deny you a copy of your records.
D2003
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NJ_Hoss
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 263
Loc: USA
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The most important resource for information about individual rights to their health information and its privacy can be found at the Department of Health and Human Services as part of HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act). While most have come to know HIPAA as the initiative which safeguards confidentiality, and it is, it was actually born of the desire to establish a set of standards and protocols for making medical information MORE portable and interchangeable among doctors, insurance providers, pharmacies, etc.
One very good aspect of HIPAA is that in addition to providing for relatively absolute privacy without consent, it also sets forth, in unequivocal terms, a patient's rights to obtain his or her own medical information and firmly establishes the patient as the owner thereof. Usually stating that you are fimiliar with your rights under HIPAA is enough to get a hesitant doctor moving, but there really should be no reason for him to resist, unless he has been keeping inadequate or substandard records, or is intentionally trying to be difficult. Nevertheless, the sanctions for interfering with your own access to your own records is as stiff as for disclosing them withour your consent.
I hope this helps!
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ML63
Member
Reged: 02/08/03
Posts: 188
Loc: Upstate New York
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Quote:
How difficult is it to get your medical records from your doctor? What are the kinds of reasons you give for requesting them, especially if you would like to continue your relationship with them.
It really isn't as difficult as you might think. It seems a daunting task at first, but it doesn't have to be. Yes, you have a legal right to your records, but I don't suggest throwing it in their face like that. With my situation, my PCP has the authority to demand I take a full physical with bloodwork and all and I could be dropped from my insurance if I don't comply. A red flag from my specialist back to my PCP could certainly bring that about. Obviously, I'd rather be the one to schedule my annual physical when I'm good and ready for it. All that said, call your doctor's office and tell them you're trying to get life insurance and that they need your records dating back two years. Start off by complaining to them what a pain it is that the insurance company is putting you through such a hassle. By doing so, you form a bond with the office folks in making the insurance company a common enemy. For a bit of humor I even threw in a sarcastic line about how I had to dig up my report card from 6th grade shop class. Stupid line, but it really helped break the ice. Doctors office workers hate insurance companies. I got what I needed in two days time and they even waived the usual charges! Yes, all that "acting" seems foolish but you must consider that doctors these days are fully aware of OP's and why patients call all of a sudden for records. A friend of mine who works in insurance told me that if it became known that I used an OP, my PCP would most likely discharge me as a patient and my insuance could be cancelled. The first time calling for my records I was very nervous, they sensed it, and I was put through the third degree. Lots of questions. Adding to it all, I was told that the doctor would want to speak to me in person before releasing them! I was scared out of my mind. I wasn't satisfied with my docs pain control and he knew it. I had decided that going the OP route was my best option but certainly didn't want to have my doctor drop me as a patient. He's a really terrific surgeon and has handled my surgeries to perfection. His only fault is believing that pain control is more a case of mind over matter. Luckily I had a friend who had gone through the whole records/OP thing and she clued me in. So I now have the best of both worlds. My OP helps with the relief I need and I still have my specialist to perform the next procedure in ridding my knee of all those nasty bone chips. BTW, getting your records is very much worth it. That way you'll be able to deal with a legitimate OP and you won't get ripped off by the no records criminals who'll charge you three or four times as much for the same meds. Good luck!
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gottadoit
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/21/03
Posts: 269
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I've seen several specialists and have had all kinds of tests over the course of the last few years. Only one gave me any kind of hassle about copying the records to me. All I had to say to the receptionist was "I know that I am legally entitled to my records and I would appreciate having them as soon as possible." She was so irritated but I got the copies without further questioning. Sometimes just throwing the word "legal" in there is enough. Once they realize you know your rights they give up. Good luck.
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mrscoach
Journeyman
Reged: 07/29/02
Posts: 82
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Gottadoit, I couldn't have said it better. Same thing here. Back a few years ago when OP's all started requiring records, I was a little nervous about asking for them too. My PCP was NO big deal - I just walked into the office (with all three of my kids, which may have sped up the process  ), and asked for a copy of the record from my last visit. It took, like, 3 minutes. Then I went to my specialist, who had my TMJ xrays, etc. They didn't want to give them to me. They wanted to check with the doctor and mail them to me in a couple weeks, if he ok'd it. I just looked at the receptionist for several seconds and then said, "they're my medical records of my visits here - I'm not disputing anything. I need them today." And she went and told the office manager or someone that "there's a woman out here who wants copies of her chart?" And I heard the other woman say "well, then give them to her," like it was no big deal. So she gave them to me. I don't see how they could possibly withhold them from you. Anyway, don't worry - it's really not as bad as you think it might be! 
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"I'm not tense - just terribly, terribly alert."
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Lilly
Journeyman
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 60
Loc: Midwest
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Well I took the plunge to get some updated medical records to document my chroic pain conditions. I made an appointment at a little comprehensive care clinic in my community and saw the nice Doc who basicly made referrals for CT's and specialist visits. She prescribed medication and I left after requesting copies of my records, I did fill out the forms to have them released to me. After almost one week and many calls back to them I was finally told I could come pick them up yesterday afternoon. When I looked at them they were obviously not copies of any charting in my file, this one page says "written progress note" at the top and is all written in the same hand, at one time and is dated yesterday instead of the day of my visit. There is a little date, time and p. 001 at the top which looks like it may be the fax they sent to the specialist I was referred to. No vitals are shown, just the SOAP form. Doc's signature is on the form. I am not going back there since my insurance will not pay for this clinic but I thought they were supposed to give you copies of the records, not this made up sheet they obviously did for me yesterday. Any thoughts?
Lilly
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Firefairy
Member
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 147
Loc: Mississippi
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I have had no problems getting records from some of the doctors I have seen over the years. Several, however, are at this one hospital outpatient clinic an hour away. I was born there, seen there as a child & teenager, had 6 or 7 surgeries there, gave birth to my 4th child there, etc. They are refusing me my records. They are telling me I have to specify exactly which visits, surgeries, tests, etc I wish the data on and it will be "prepared" for me, for a fee. I visited the law library, copied relevent passages, confronted various personnel, called a lawyer, etc.
Here is the problem. Up until recently the doctors personal comments about you, your case, your family, etc were included instead of just the medical information. They have had several cases where someone is trying to sue over inaccurate information they found in their records. This hospital is trying to "clean up" the information to strictly medical or pertinent information.
A week ago my sister had a test and had to hand carry her records from one floor to another. We snuck off to a bathroom to read them. There were things in there from when she was a teenager noting that in the doc's opinion our father was a hypochondriac therefore she might be. Her "monthly" problems could not possibly be a problem in an athletic child like this, she must be seeking drugs to get high. He speculated that a broken leg was to get attention because I had won a state title at something. This stuff was included in the transcription notes right along with blood pressure. My sister is healthy, successful, self-assured, and never had any "drug seeking" behaviour. If that kind of stuff is in their records on her I would hate to see what they have on a chronic pain patient.
Now I want the stupid things all the more!
This is way to long, I am sorry, no more ranting.
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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What has worked for me is to act like I care about the office staff. I tell them "Look, I know you're very busy and swamped with work. But could you please help me out here, I really need the records, I'm seeing my specialist tomorrow and I've had a million things to do and haven't been able to get here. I'd very much appreciate it if you could accomodate me."
This way you acknowledge the office girl an validate her feelings of being over worked wich most people don't understand. They do appreciate that. It has always worked for me, understanding it from their perspective.
-yawkaw
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JOJOM
Banned for off topic discussions, confronting mods in public, and being unpolite to members and mods
Reged: 08/16/03
Posts: 358
Loc: Yankee
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The Dr. I was seeing office was super nice, I called and said, I am seeing a new Doctor Tomorrow since I moved out of the state, otherwise I would still go there, anyway they faxed them over in like 5 minutes. This place was so great, I wish I could find another Doctors office like that where I live, but no luck. Be extra sweet and do not seem pushy or frantic, they will take their sweet time then.
Good luck to you!
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Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief she is beautiful.
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Lilly
Journeyman
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 60
Loc: Midwest
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Since the only time I had been to this clinic was last week, the don't know me at all. I later found out that my insurance would not pay for me to go there, I have to see a Doc on the "list", I will not be able to continue care there. The Doc referred me for some very expensive scans that I later found my insurance will not cover unless referred by a Doc on the "list", so I had to cancel the referrals. When I was asking about the records they kept wanting to fax them to where I needed them to go, i.e. another Dr.'s office. I don't really want to push this issue with them since I only had one visit but it just burned me up that they made a "mark up" sheet for me instead of copies of the actual record. I brought them all copies of my records since 1996 so they should realize I keep my own records. I have to think, new paient with pain, gets Rx, cancels referrals and wants records might make them act strange.
Lilly
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