timwethers
Journeyman
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 78
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I know these "no record" OP's have taken a hit as of late, but are there any out there that I can rely on to make an order from at this time. I requested medical records from my doctor and it is going to be a fight.
Please PM me if needed I am not trying to red flad any more of these companies.
Thanks
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prettyday
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 1114
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
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You know I think you'll be waiting for replies only cause it is very touch and go right now. My best suggestion is really to monitor this board...worth joining the VIP side, too, and just kind of surf the comments until you get a vibe that one is right for you and coming thru. None of them are really no-records, anymore, and what is troubling many is that there will be a record of your name and order.
Also, I know you would never, but a false name really finally gives LE something to chew on.... look at Winona Ryder, she was who I was thinking of, and that was local...so records are records, you might as well not worry bout that just keep looking until you get a feel that an OP might work for you and.....go with it?!!!!
Good luck! Welcome to the board!
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
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timwethers
Journeyman
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 78
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Thanks for the valuable input
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henry1
Board Addict
Reged: 10/08/03
Posts: 304
Loc: North Central USA
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timwethers, You're medical records belong to you, not the Dr. Why you would have a problem aquiring them I don't understand. You might have to pay a reasonable fee to have them copied and mailed, beyond that there should be no problem.
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treading the backward path...
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mizzzj
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/31/04
Posts: 247
Loc: Town of snooping Post Office
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My Dr's office lost most of my medical records and insist that what they gave me is all they have. I am going in for an appointment to speak with my doc personally.
How could all my records from the past year be gone??
MizzzJ
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If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
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diggsbakes
Veteran
Reged: 09/17/03
Posts: 579
Loc: Mountians
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Your doctor's office cannot LOSE medical reords. Either what you state is impossible or that is complete malpractice.
You should hire a malpractice lawyer, because you will definately win something.
Oh, and you might want to change your PCP soon also, since this one seems to have complete morons working in his office.
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oldnavy170
Board Addict
Reged: 05/12/03
Posts: 357
Loc: New York
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Yeah it sounds strange that a doctor would loose your medical records but then again it doesn't sound that impossible either. Some of these doctors just make no sense in anything they do!!!!!
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mizzzj
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/31/04
Posts: 247
Loc: Town of snooping Post Office
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They never admitted to losing my records, of course. My Dr is leaving the office, probably because the place is run so horribly. She told me that she would help me and I hope she does. She's been a great Doctor and I hate to lose her. Figures... I will post the outcome of missing medical records.
My sister works in a clinic and tells me this is common. My suggestion to everybody is that if you pay for a visit get the records and don't be scammed. Its bad to have the "wool pulled over ones eyes"
Thanks for your support,
MizzzJ
PS: Get records of every visit. I know this sounds paranoid, but the only person who will watch out for you is YOU!
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If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
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TSLTiff
Member
Reged: 03/08/04
Posts: 118
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I am not doubting your sister or her experience, but my mom and sister have worked in several doctor's offices and I am friends with a few doctors myself, and I must say, I don't think that this is a common thing. In fact, with the new non-disclosure laws and stuff, they should be very tightly managed. That definitely includes not losing them.
Just my 2 cents. I am sure she is a good doc, but in the case of your records, she is only as good as the people who work for her.
Regards,
S
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carrigaline
Journeyman
Reged: 01/22/03
Posts: 82
Loc: So Cal
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Given the popularity of telemedicine and OPs, I wonder if doctors & nurses have noticed an increase in the number of patients asking for their records, and assumed this is the reason. Not that it matters; patients are entitled to their records by law. Still it's something I've thought about. The first time I asked for my records documenting an exam, I did feel a bit uneasy about it because I'd never done that before. The nurse never questioned me about it and gave me what I requested.
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Lyn
Stranger
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 16
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Just wanted to add my experience. I too have run into a brick wall in obtaining my records. Now, granted, mine are rather old. My surgery was done in 1985, with different follow-up visits and additional care up to 2002. But I cannot get records of anything! And what makes it even stranger, there are 3 different docs involved. I have my original, referring doctor in my hometown, the specialist in a nearby city, and the surgeon in the same city. The specialist claims they have no records on me, (after quoting dates and appointments, hmmmm) and said I would have to go to the surgeon. Surgeon's office won't respond to my calls or written requests, and the local guy states all those records are in storage and it is "virtually impossible" to retrieve them. Now I am not usually prone to conspiracy theories, but come on! Kind of makes me wonder what they all don't want me to see. So I can concur, even though these records are my legal property, that doesn't mean I am going to get them.
Have a great week-end, everyone!
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prettyday
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 1114
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
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Quote:
Given the popularity of telemedicine and OPs, I wonder if doctors & nurses have noticed an increase in the number of patients asking for their records, and assumed this is the reason. Not that it matters; patients are entitled to their records by law. Still it's something I've thought about. The first time I asked for my records documenting an exam, I did feel a bit uneasy about it because I'd never done that before. The nurse never questioned me about it and gave me what I requested.
I wonder about that too. At the time, I was blessedly not even considering that possibility, but now I do, and when people first join the boards and ask about the no-records OPs, I always feel a pang of sympathy....because if your doctor is one of the one who retires or is retired, trust me, those records are poison in a huge local radius...
I was lucky. I went thru the hell of Oxy detox thanks to a forger who stole from my doctor as well, but at the time I was so sick of my failure to respond to pain meds anymore that I stuck it out and did accupuncture, and it worked.
Well, I have all this permanent pain stuff, now I find out, and I should have kept up on my treatments....
Long story short....there was a big gap between when I stopped seeing an MD and when I started again, and I still don't want to touch my old records, which are very well documented and massive, because this got some press around here.... I got new ones, but geez!---what a mess all around considering it's not a college degree or a manuscript you're working on...it's a chronicle of misery...who even wants to hold it in their hands?.....
Well, that's when you have to bite down and do what you have to, and keep looking for someone who will treat you...
but it's not easy.  
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
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want2bcalm
Member
Reged: 04/03/04
Posts: 127
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Doctors have always acted "hinkey" with me about my records. Like they are too complicated for me to understand or something. Gad, watch them even write your records. Reminds me of kids covering their papers so that the kid next to them won't copy. LOL. The offices always act snitty about giving them to you. I've told this story before but my old PCP acted very offended that I would even take my kids to a dermatologist for their acne when his "treatment" wasn't working. So....yes, it can be a pain to get your records. No one is disputing your right to get them but it can be hard especially if you are not an assertive person.
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sasi
Member
Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 125
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Adding my stories about getting records...
Long ago I was changing urologists because the one that I was using was not helping my problem. I asked them to give me my records so that I could take them with me to the new urologist and they had no problem coping them for me. These were hand written notes from the doctor for each visit and typed notes for the surgery, lab results etc.
I never asked for medical records again until my pcp could not help me or refused to help me with my sinus headaches and came here for help. They also had no problem giving me my records from each visit. But this time they were typed, transcribed records rather than the doctor's notes. These were much less informative than the previous hand written doctor's notes that I got from my first urologist. So I was just wondering what's the difference? Are we also entitiled to get the notes the doctor writes at each visit or are we only entitled to whatever he decides to transcribe?
My other experience with medical records was a few years ago when my now ex boyfriend had a hip replacement at a young age (long story.) I had worked in a hospital pharmacy for years and had read doctor's orders and patient charts for years so I knew what most of the stuff meant. I went outside his hospital room with him to go over his chart with him because he had specific questions about some things. Well, the nurse totally flipped out and said that he had no right to look at those records unless it was in the presence of his doctor and closed the chart in my hand.
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Lablady2
Veteran
Reged: 05/05/04
Posts: 502
Loc: New York City
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Wouldn't it be easier and much less hassle to use an IOP, or an IOP that ships from WITHIN the US. This avoids all these self rightous MD's which I avoid like the plague. I have always had good luck with the IOP's I use, and you totally circumvent the medical profession which I have NO USE for!
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Lyn
Stranger
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 16
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Well, I see that I am not alone with this record problem. What a crock! They are indeed a "chronicle of misery", but they belong to us, and it just doesn't make sense that you can't get them if you need them. Oh well, I am taking the sound advice offered and getting new records started. Again, you guys are the best!
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race
Stranger
Reged: 05/28/04
Posts: 6
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MEEE TOOOO!
my OP went through a bumpy bit and i thought i was going to have to switch-and i called my dr's office-first the woman told me i had to talk to my dr-but he's not in for several days, so i call back-she says she wont forward him a message until i come in and sign a release form (which i've already signed) so i do and ask for my copies right then, she says i have to get them from the dr, so i wait-the dr says it's up to the "filer" so i talk to the filer who tells me they wont give the records to me, i have to have my new dr call them and ask them to fax it to a listed fax number.
once, i was alone in the office with that file and i took a peak, there were VERY DERROGITORY comments written on postits all over the thing! (mostly having to do with my lack of religious background, which is NONE of his business!) when i confronted him, he said it's just so he knows what kind of things to talk about for "bedside manner" so then, how does being nice to me next to my bed have ANYTHING to do with weather or not i belong to my states major relition? and why are all the notes regarding my lack of religion?????
i'm sure they want a chance to white out all those lovely comments and make sure i dont get any hard copies in my hands cuz i could sue the PANTS off them, and they know i will too!
so i had my boyfriends father (a lawyer) send over a legal thingy that says they HAVE to give my my records in x amount of time or else...
we'll see how that goes, something tells me they'll all be neatly typed up and cleaned up, but at least i'll have a copy!
good luck all!
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Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/02/02
Posts: 1247
Loc: Southwest U.S.
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If you want your records and they give you a runaround, do a Google and find the HIPAA summary posted by HHS and also the HIPAA complaint form. Failing to give you a copy of your ENTIRE records is called a "other violation" under HIPAA. Go in there and DEMAND that they give you a copy of your full records including all the Post-Its they stuck on there and tell them you're filing a HIPAA complaint because they're violating federal law in withholding your records from you. Bring a camera and if you get a picture proving they altered your records by taking off the Post-Its you have proof of their law breaking. Those arrogant SOBs need to be taught a lesson. If they're violating federal law, fill out a HIPAA complaint form and wave it in their face saying it's ready to go in the mail. Let everyone in the waiting room hear what you're saying. You'll get your records and tell them that you saw the Post-It notes and if they destroy parts of your medical records they're violating your state's law on medical-record retention, as well as the federal HIPAA that says they have to give you a copy. Tell them that you're gonna complain, if they destroy your records, to the state medical board and the state attorney general's office. It's a crime for them to destroy part of your file.
They may refuse to treat you in the future. That's their perogative. But you're entitled to get a copy of your records that they haven't altered to hide the self-incriminating nonsense that they put on there.
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Your mileage may vary ...
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Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/02/02
Posts: 1247
Loc: Southwest U.S.
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Quote:
Just wanted to add my experience. I too have run into a brick wall in obtaining my records. Now, granted, mine are rather old. My surgery was done in 1985, with different follow-up visits and additional care up to 2002. But I cannot get records of anything! And what makes it even stranger, there are 3 different docs involved. I have my original, referring doctor in my hometown, the specialist in a nearby city, and the surgeon in the same city. The specialist claims they have no records on me, (after quoting dates and appointments, hmmmm) and said I would have to go to the surgeon. Surgeon's office won't respond to my calls or written requests, and the local guy states all those records are in storage and it is "virtually impossible" to retrieve them. Now I am not usually prone to conspiracy theories, but come on! Kind of makes me wonder what they all don't want me to see. So I can concur, even though these records are my legal property, that doesn't mean I am going to get them.
Have a great week-end, everyone!
1985? Well, in my state the law allows them to destroy "inactive records" that are 10 years older or more. The law varies by state, but here at least if you went 10 years without seeing that doctor, they can destroy the old records. Oh. Also. Here they need to keep the records on-site for 5 years. After 5 years they can have them stored securely in a off-site location as long as they are retrievable. It could take more than the HIPAA's 30-day rule to retrieve records from off-site storage.
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