Is it ok to ask to see chart?

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bassadict69

First of all, this has nothing to do with the heart or the actual purpose of this forum but I do have a question...

My wife's father was hospitalized yesterday with what is possibly a stroke. He has none of the usual symptoms but simply lost the ability to speak. He can sometimes force out one or two words but that is it & he must work really hard to do that.

My wife & her uncle (his brother) have been at the hospital all day while I have been at work. They have done CT's, an MRI, & other tests & all I keep hearing is that it MAY be a stroke. I do not know if they are scared to ask questions or what, but the family does not seem to know anymore now than they did en route to the hospital.

If we ask to see his charts, is the hospital required to show us? My FIL did sign that we all could be released info about him so the privacy thing should not be an issue. With the doc only coming by once or twice a day, I would like to read his chart to try to find some answers & maybe see what the doc's are actually thinking.

Is that something that is within our patient's rights?
 
I would think so, but a better thing to do might be to ask the nurses to have the doctors call you or your wife daily with the info since you can't be there at rounds.
 
I don't know how it works in LA, but in Ohio, they will not let anyone see the chart unless they have an acting Power of Attorney. I don't know if it's law, I dont' think it is, but they gave my wife a hard time until she produced it and then they let her do as she pleased.
 
If that is what we must do...we will do it!

When the docs come in & talk to him, he CANNOT relay that info back to us due to his inability to speak. With the problems he is having with one part of his brain, who is to say to other part that understands communication actually understands what is being told to him?
 
Hope that didn't come off wrong...Thanks to both of you for your input!

I am getting off now & heading to the hospital...
 
I think it would be hard to get to see the actual chart because it has so much very important information and in a certain order. Even the doctors have to be very carfeul with it. God forbid that it gets lost. You want to see some agitated doctors then! I have seen that when one of their own absconded with the chart to go and review it.

But you are entitled to get copies of everything. Unfortunately, that takes some time. The best thing to do is to park yourself at the hospital starting at 5-6 AM, not kidding! And stay there until the doctors "round". That is the only way I could get needed info.

And even then. you may find that some doctors will avoid the room until you are gone, if they do not want to speak with you.

You are also entitled to have the doctor call you if they are signed in at the hospital, even if they are not on the floor. And I think they are obligated to do that. But it can take some time for them to get back to you.

Keep in mind that most of them see hospital patients in the early AM, and then go on to their offices where they see office patients in the PM. So they are extremely busy. Surgeons do just the opposite. They usually operate in the early AM and early afternoon, then round on the floor aftewards.

The head nurse may be able to fill you in on things too. And so can the Physician's Assistants or Nurse Practioners. The hospitalist doctors can do that too.

Take it from me, I was the master lurker.
 
To my understanding, Ross is correct. You must have power of attorney, or he has to release them to you himself, or have released them to you in writing prior. Otherwise, the hospital can't show them to you or copy them for you, under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which provides for patient privacy. That's a federal law, so it's in place in every state.

Once you have power of attorney, or if he requests it, the hospital and doctors are required by the same law to provide you/him with copies of all of his records on request, within a reasonable timeframe, and at no or minimal copying cost.

Without the POA, only he can request them. However, there are hospitals, nurses, doctors who will bend in difficult circumstances, technically correct or not.

It is good in some ways, and can be a real impediment in others.

Best wishes,
 
I don't know, either, but do let us know if you get to read them. we'd like to know what it says -also so we will know if anybody else asks the same question.

My bro was taking amiodarone; was sposed to take it for six weeks; he was left on it for a yr and 4 months! the dr even told me when I asked him, that bro was taking a dose of poison every day. I asked for all his records, when I went for them there was a six inch stack of what they had copied - everything! but then that's the dr's office, not the hospital, and I guess they were thinking we were going to sue, but we got the records.

I hope you get to see what's there. But I rather expect they are telling you all they (drs) know. staff doesn't get to tell you anything!
 
I am told that if a patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to make decisions for him/herself, the next of kin is the person who can make those decisions, and see all information and records. Acting in my son's behalf, I spoke with doctors, nurses and hospital personnel and I requested copies of all of his records. When the hospital would not let anyone stay the night, I insisted that a "Watcher" be with him throughout the night. At that time. I did not have his medical power of attorney.

When my husband had his stroke, his condition was very much like the description you made about your father. At that time, I did not have medical power of attorney. But, I did make decisions about his condition and his needs. I requested that his cardiologist and internist be consulted. I refused to let him take medicine that I thought inappropriate. I also demanded that the hospital replace the hospitalist they assigned him. When things were not working, I decided to have him moved by ambulance to a different hospital.

I highly suggest that someone remain with your father 24 hours a day. It will help him tremendously to see that he is not alone. And, it does keep the medical professionals on their toes. Most of the nurses felt that my being there around the clock was a help to them.

When my husband first entered hospital, he could not walk, talk, feed himself, shower, or go to the bathroom. The first days, everything had to be done for him. But, as time went on, he made little improvements. By the time he left hospital, he could walk, feed himself, attend to his own grooming, and make utterances that could be understood.

Two months after his stroke, he went to speech therapy and rehabilitation therapy. Today, he can do anything that he wants, although he must do some things a little differently. His speech is different, but that does not stop his from talking on and on (thank heavens).

I wish you and your family the very best in this most difficult time.

Kindest regards,
Blanche
 
First of all, thanks for the well wishes!

My FIL did sign his brother, my wife & me down as being able to be told any & ALL information regarding his health. Any of us are able to talk one on one with any of the doctors, nurses, etc, either on the phone or in person about his current status, changes, etc.

I got up there Friday afternoon after work & found out that a doctor & several students came in a little earlier. The doc was Indian or something & very little of what he said could be understood. My FIL got aggravated with him & the doc in turn got pissed & gave him a hard time! My wife said she could understand very little of what the doc was trying to say.

As far as the records & chart goes...I was not allowed to see it, but the charge nurse did pull it out & looked everything over & according to her, they were ruling out a stroke! What the #$%^????

I threw a MAJOR fit about that! I got several charge nurses involved as well as a hospital administrator. Like I told them, this guy may be the best doc in the hospital but if he cannot get his point across to the patient, he is of very little use & can do us no good. When he left Friday, noone knew anymore than they did before he showed up. The hospital administrator guaranteed us that a different doc would be in the room between 8-10 am Saturday morning & that we would not be seeing the other doctor again.

Saturday morning, I had to fix my truck, but my wife & her uncle went to the hospital at 7am. About 830, several doctors came into the room & spent about 20 minutes with my FIL & the family, as well as about 5 minutes on the phone with me, explaining everything & answering all our questions. The new doc, appoligized probably 20 times for the problems we had with the other doctor & said that is a common complaint at that hospital. This is at LSUHSC-Shreveport, which is a teaching hospital.

We did find out that my FIL had a minor stroke & that from preliminary readings of all the tests, MRI, & the CT's, there is no tumor or growths. The radiologist will read everything today & make the final determination on all that. The main problem we have with my FIL now, is eating the hospital food & keeping him from touring the hospital constantly. He just cannot stay put in one place! That is definately a good sign though! He does seem to be talking a little better. No major strides with his speech but it is better than it was.
 
I am glad that you all got your answer. I work as a RN in a ICU and I am completely flustered by the physicians at times. Many families have questions and unforunately as a RN we are limited as to what we can tell family members and the patients. I can only tell basic results such as labs, some other tests but if it is a MRI or other procedure result then the dr has to tell the family, because they consider that diagnosing which is outside our scope of practice. I have had family members yell...and I do mean YELL at me. I do what I can to accomadate them...call the physician that ordered the test and try to get them to come talk to the family. I have been hung up on by doctors as well!
It is extremely flustrating.....I know!
But I am glad that they were able to help your family out!
As I always say....when in doubt and no action....don't be afraid to complain!
Dawn
 
Strokes suck! It took me over 6 weeks to relearn to write and walk. Don't expect his speech to improve without someone working with him and lots of time. People to this day ask why I never write them letters or send cards, well its because my handwriting is worse then that of a doctors.
 
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