Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Do I have the right to walk

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
painsince91
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2007
Posts : 77
Posted 10/16/2007 3:22 PM (GMT -7)
into a former doctor's office and ask for my medical records and should I expect to get them?
profile picture
straydog
Forum Moderator
Joined : Feb 2003
Posts : 18247
Posted 10/16/2007 3:38 PM (GMT -7)
You must give them notice that you need a copy of your records and be prepared to pay a copy fee. They must be givem ample time to copy the records. Susie
profile picture
painsince91
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2007
Posts : 77
Posted 10/16/2007 7:39 PM (GMT -7)
But I will never go back to him again. Why should he need to keep them? He discharged me.

profile picture
straydog
Forum Moderator
Joined : Feb 2003
Posts : 18247
Posted 10/16/2007 7:42 PM (GMT -7)
Its the nice laws we have to abide by. I don't think you will get them by just walking in, Susie
profile picture
TexasJen
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2006
Posts : 649
Posted 10/17/2007 11:31 AM (GMT -7)
The records you will receive will be copies of things like surgical reports, test results, lab results, and what medications you have been prescribed.  The doctor's notes are the legal personal property of the doctor, and the patient, by law, is not entitled to receive them.
profile picture
Stuntrider
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2006
Posts : 42
Posted 10/18/2007 8:41 AM (GMT -7)
i recently needed mine for a trip to a new pain clinic.  I simply called and asked and they faxed me copies... i dont' know if they ever give up the originals though

profile picture
curley
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2005
Posts : 4305
Posted 10/20/2007 5:50 PM (GMT -7)
Yep gotta agree with Susie.I know in the past I had to sign a release form and then pay for each copy and I gotta tell you if you looked at my files that's alot of money.Call them tell them that you want to have your files and that you will pay for them.
profile picture
yogaprof
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2006
Posts : 1665
Posted 10/22/2007 3:00 PM (GMT -7)
it is cheaper to wait and have your new doc send for them, then you shouldn't have to pay, otherwise you might have to pay per page, which could really add up.
profile picture
CRANKY 1
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2005
Posts : 617
Posted 10/23/2007 5:59 PM (GMT -7)

The law entitles you to a copy of your medical records from any medical facility.   Generally, they will require you to fill out a signed consent form.  Most places charge the patient for the copies, but don't charge if going directly to another medical office.  What kind of records you will get out of your file is another matter.  Seems like everyone has their own standard as to what records they will release, i.e. everything from your chart, down to just transcribed records.  It can be very annoying trying to get the information you need. 

One clinic I went to would only provide transcribed notes, full of errors, and nothing else, not even the chart of what medications I took, dosages, starting/stopping dates, etc...  That was the information I really needed.  However, if you need to the records for a new doctor, I would also request a copy for yourself, just so you know what information the doctor will be receiving.  That way you will be prepared to answer questions your new doctor might have from your old records.  It's good to have copies of your records from every doctor you have seen, for continuity.

What I really want to know is what happens to those records if the doctor retires, the office closes, etc...  Are they stored somewhere or destroyed?  Anyone have a clue?

Leigh Ann cool

profile picture
TexasJen
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2006
Posts : 649
Posted 10/23/2007 6:31 PM (GMT -7)
Cranky - your question about document retention is a good one, and one of the reasons I began gathering my records for personal use years ago. I am not aware of any nation-wide rule regarding the retention of medical records by the doctor, but most eventually will destroy them if you haven't been a patient in a few years. Once I got everything together and up-to-date, I made it a habit to request copies of any procedure at the time of the follow-up appointment. That way the chart is right in front of the staff, and I have never been refused. For example, after surgery I'll ask for a copy of the surgical report, any lab results and the pathology report. Seems to be easy on everyone involved to make a copy while you're right there with your chart and the doctor.

Gramps - thanks for the clarification on ownership of doctor's notes. I didn't realize that once they make their notes public to another doctor or hospital, that rule no longer applies.
profile picture
straydog
Forum Moderator
Joined : Feb 2003
Posts : 18247
Posted 10/23/2007 9:21 PM (GMT -7)
Alot of times if a dr is retiring or moving his office will notify you or I have seen ads ran in the paper the office is closing on such & such date. If you were a patient there you could pick your records up on whatever days....... Susie
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply




HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
FacebookFacebook TwitterTwitter PinterestPinterest LinkedInLinkedIn
© 1997-2021 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.