Hospital Patient Records?

[Jkm7]

Post surgery, did you request (and receive) copies of your medical records from the Keeper of the Records at the Hospital where you had your surgery? If so, did you have difficulty getting them? Is there truly a significant reason to obtain them?

Thanks. My surgery was three years ago but sometimes I wish I had requested copies.

 

[geebee]

I have records from each of my surgeries as well as cath tapes and many echo results.

I was very happy to have them when I needed each surgical consult. However, I was not happy I needed them, if you know what I mean.

I do not recall getting any resistance from the records department and that was before all the HIPPA regulations. Now you have the legal right to any records so don't let them give you trouble.

 

[Jkm7]

Thanks for your response, Gina.

I had my surgery at a major teaching hospital. Do you think three years later is too late to request them?

 

[Susan BAV]

I think you should try. When I had my valve replacement surgery, the doctors wanted to see the operating records of my other heart surgery from 24 or so years before! I didn't try to get them then; no time really.

But three years is recent. It might take a bit of effort but it's well worth it to have them if and when you'll need them.

 

[geebee]

Thanks for your response, Gina.

I had my surgery at a major teaching hospital. Do you think three years later is too late to request them?

No - I think they are required to keep records for quite some time. I know when I had my last OHS, it happened to be at the hospital where I was born 42 years earlier. They had me showing in the computer as being born there and I had not been there since I was born.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

The policy at my Local Hospital is that you can see any of your records after filling out a request / authorization form.
They can print out recent computerized records fairly quickly or go to the files and obtain the originals.

If you want a COPY, there is a $1 charge per page up to (50?) and a lesser charge above that.

At UAB, you must set up an appointment to even see your records (UGH). I had my UAB records sent to my Cardiologist and most (handwritten) pages were UNREADABLE because the printing was so small and I suspect the surgeon chose a color of ink that does not copy well.

Bottom Line: Under HIPPA the Hospital MUST allow you to see your records but can make it as easy or difficult as they choose.

'Al Capshaw'

 

[Lynlw]

Alot of Hospitals will charge (per page) IF the records are for you BUT if you request them to be sent to another doctor they are free. So talk to one of your docs, or heck even a family friend that is a doc and ask if you can have the records sent to him/her and they will pass them on to you. I have all of Justin's sent to a family friend, he reads them because I ask him to, he is a heart surgeron and has been answerring my questions then mails them to me. with all involved w/ Justin's heart, I feel safer with a few doctors really understanding it, incase one retires or gets hit by a bus.... . It can be a little more PIA gettting them sent now since you have to fill out Hippa forms, but if you don't live close to where you had surgery they can fax or mail you the forms to fill out. HTH
oh the good reason to have copies is if you happen to end up in the hospital unexpectly, they are good to have while they are trying to get a hold of them

 

[Jkm7]

Thanks everyone. I'm glad I asked.
I think I shall call the Keeper of the Records and ask for the procedure for me to get copies.

Hopefully it won't be too much of a PIA.
If they make it a nuisance, I'll ask a physician friend of ours to request them.
I don't want to bother him if not necessary.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

On one occassion I asked to see my records for a hospital stay. It came to several pages which the clerk printed out. When told of the $1 per page charge, I asked if they could send them to my Primary Care Physician. She stuck them in an envelope and handed them to me with no charge.... It's worth a shot!

'Al Capshaw'

 

[kbheart]

My surgeon handed me a copy of the surgery report when I left the hospital. It has come in very handy as I see new doctors. Good luck!

 

[Jkm7]

I have a copy of my Surgeon's Report. He sent it to my Cardio and when I started seeing a new PC, my cardio's office gave me a copy to bring to the PCC. Of course, I made a copy before the appointment.

Seeing as I have the surgeon's report, is it worth anything to get the rest of the hospital records? Or is that all that is really pertinent?

 

[KatieD]

They're required by law to keep the records for a certain number of years, I think 7 is the minimum. Some keep them longer depending on their archive policies. They're also required to give you a copy if you request them.

You should be able to call and ask them for a Release of Information form. They'll send it to you and you complete it to release the information to yourself. With HIPAA regulatrions they all have their own interpretations about what they need so it's better to get their exact form and use it otherwise they'll deny your request and send their form for you to complete anyway.

I've had my provider charge me if I ask for a large section of time, but if I only ask for one date of service they usually give it to me free.

I make a point of getting all my records, especially test results, right after they're done. I made the mistake of putting things off once and there were no records to get when I decided years later I really should have a copy.

 

[Guest]

Bottom Line: Under HIPPA the Hospital MUST allow you to see your records but can make it as easy or difficult as they choose.

See ... this is what bugs the crap out of me. These are, after all, records of OURselves ... NOT the hospital (etc.). Yet, we have to PAY for them.

*shakes head*

I have MOST of my records ... but have not gotten all of my surgery notes yet....



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Your heart is in serious danger" ... Tanya Tucker & T Graham Brown ... 'Don't Go Out'

 

[KatieD]

There are also laws that regulate how much you can be charged for copies. Each state may be different, in Colorado the Health regs allow for

"[Pursuant to Colorado Regulations, charges for discharged inpatient records should be limited to $14.00 for the first ten pages or fewer, $.50 per page for pages 11-40, and $.33 per page for every additional page]. Actual postage or shipping costs may also be charged."

I've gotten copies of a lot of records and have never had to pay anything close to what the law allows.