Medical records

If you have seen a doctor in recent years, you have probably heard of "HIPAA" which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This law, enacted by Congress in 1996, was created to protect health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs. However, the law also specifies how your medical records can be handled with regards to privacy and grants patients full and complete access to their medical records.

It's this last part that I wanted to touch base on today. Even though 11 years have passed, I still come across patients that have no idea that they can get a copy of their medical records. You should always get a copy of your medical records. Here is why. First, I have seen time and time and again that the interpretation of what patients tell me the doctor told them is vastly different from what the doctor actually stated in their dictated notes. Second, if you have a copy of your medical records, this can be of great importance if you see a new doctor who is trying to understand your history. You will likely have forgotten every doctor you saw, the dates you were seen, and all of the findings. If you had the records though, this problem can be avoided.

How do you get the records? Easy. If you were seen in a hospital setting, call the hospital's medical records department. They will ask you to sign a form consenting for the information to be released. If seen by a private doctor, simply call the office and request a copy of the records. If they give you a problem, a quick reminder that they are required to give you the records per the HIPAA law should get their attention. No one wants to be held accountable for violating HIPAA regulations since there are hefty violations that can result from such a complaint. To read more about HIPPA, click here for the HIPAA website.