Medical Records

[Roxy]

Has anybody on here ever tried to get copies of their medical records from previous doctors? I was thinking about it and I decided I want all of my records. I know they eventually get rid of them and I do not like the thought of not having all the information and some things missing because it will be thrown away. I tried calling one of my previous doctors that has the largest chunk of my records(which I can't get anywhere else, because the doctors before her have already gotten rid of them) and they told me it is going to cost me a whole lot of money to get them copied and sent. However, within 7-10 years of the last time seeing that doctor, they shred all my records and that's it. This does not make any sense to me whatsoever. They are MY medical records. They have to do with MY health and MY life. I don't get it. They have my records from another state as well (which that state no longer has), but say they will not ever be able to release those due to a new law. This is frustrating as hell. I know for some people it might not be important to have a complete medical history in your own possession, but for me, especially after seeing how doctors can screw things up, I like to have as much information about my health (past and present) as possible. Is there any way to get around this??? 

[thegrammalady]

i'm not aware of any new law, which doesn't mean it doesn't exist. however, federal law says you are entitled to look at and to have copies of medical records you want, you just have to pay for the copping costs. the doctor must provide a private place for you to look at them and you can tell them which parts you want. (you might find that having the entire file is not necessary) i'd ask them what law they are referring to and research it. they might be interpreting it to their advantage and how they see it might not necessarily be the way it really is.

[Sluff]

They charge for each copy.

[livecam]

No I haven't tried.  To change the subject slightly, what is really disturbing is how easy it is for others to get hold of your medical records.  Future insurers, employers, government agencies etc. all seem to have no problem acquiring that information. 

Although that information is supposed to be private and confidential it really isn't.  Anyone willing to pay the right medical database provider for it can get it.

[tamara]

Just made me think.......................

Why can't doctor's notes be written on duplicate paper one for him one for the patient..........................

What do other people think ?

Might make them clean up their act in some of their wordings as well and how they write about us.

[jbeany]

Hmmm - even if my doc gave me a duplicate, I'm not sure I could read it.  He's got typical doctor's handwriting - mean totally illegible.

[Roxy]

Tamara, you have a good point. It wouldn't be any extra work for them, might be a little bit extra cost but with what doctor's are paid, i'm sure it wouldn't hit them that hard. At this point, i get a copy of all my labs and i keep my own journal and notes of what I tell the doctor when I visit and whatever they say that's important. I figure that's more accurate than their notes anyway since they will brush certain things off sometimes that later might be relevant.

[angela515]

What's funny is that when you enter a doctor's office for an appointment, or even in the hospital... they have your file in their posession all the time, and it seems to me if you try to look at it they get all butt-hurt and act like your being nosy. WTF? I'm like, they are MY files about MY health, if anyone should get to look at them, it's ME... 

[Roxy]

Yeah it's almost like it's some confidential thing they are hiding from us. I sometimes wonder if there are notes in there that they don't want us to know about. Like we don't know what's going on with our own health.

[jbeany]

It's their notes on our attitude they don't want us to see, not the information on our health.

[kitkatz]

Let me give an attitude.  It really makes me mad when health professionals expect you to act like all of this stuff is good for you and you should have no complaints.  They have to let me complain or I am not going to make it.  I often get real flip when I am talking to a doctor because it is the only way I can handle the situation and not run screaming from the office.