Labs

[Guest guest]

Does anyone know the law about patients getting their lab results? The

last time I went for blood tests I requested a copy of the lab results

to be sent to me as well as my dr.. They told me they couldn't do that

and that the dr. would go over it with me.

I am in New York, anyone have any experience in personally getting their

results?

Thanks,

Doreen

[Guest guest]

> Does anyone know the law about patients getting their lab

results? The

> last time I went for blood tests I requested a copy of the lab

results

> to be sent to me as well as my dr.. They told me they couldn't do

that

> and that the dr. would go over it with me.

> I am in New York, anyone have any experience in personally getting

their

> results?

>

> Thanks,

> Doreen

I live in Missouri. The law here is that the patient can have a copy

of the bloodtests.

[Guest guest]

I live in California & haven't yet asked for a copy of my blood tests from

either the lab or my doctor(s). I'm going for a blood draw on Monday tho & will

ask the lab to mail me a copy of the results. We'll see if they do or not.

Caroline

Re: Labs

> Does anyone know the law about patients getting their lab

results? The

> last time I went for blood tests I requested a copy of the lab

results

> to be sent to me as well as my dr.. They told me they couldn't do

that

> and that the dr. would go over it with me.

> I am in New York, anyone have any experience in personally getting

their

> results?

>

> Thanks,

> Doreen

I live in Missouri. The law here is that the patient can have a copy

of the bloodtests.

[Guest guest]

I went through something like that a few months ago. I went

directly to the lab and tried to get my results. I was

flabbergasted when they told me I couldn't have them. They told me

I'd have to get them from my doctor. There is something seriously

wrong with that, IMO. I don't believe it is against the law - just

the policy of that particular lab - but it's a very common lab -

Quest laboratories. I wanted to yell at them - " but it's my blood

you tested!!! They are MY results!!! " Even the doctor was reluctant

to tell me the actual lab values. He just told me everything was

a " little low " or a " little high " . Of course, that's just one of

the many reasons he's my ex-doctor.

It makes me want to set up my own little home laboratory. I'd like

to dispense with testing altogether but I'm trying to get pregnant

again and will need other things tested as well, like progesterone,

blood sugar, etc. Maybe after (if) I have another child, I'll just

stop seeing doctors entirely.

-Anne

> Does anyone know the law about patients getting their lab

results? The

> last time I went for blood tests I requested a copy of the lab

results

> to be sent to me as well as my dr.. They told me they couldn't do

that

> and that the dr. would go over it with me.

> I am in New York, anyone have any experience in personally getting

their

> results?

>

> Thanks,

> Doreen

[Guest guest]

OMG....Quest is the lab I'm using too. You mean they may not give me a copy of

my results? The doctor had better then.

Caroline

Re: Labs

I went through something like that a few months ago. I went

directly to the lab and tried to get my results. I was

flabbergasted when they told me I couldn't have them. They told me

I'd have to get them from my doctor. There is something seriously

wrong with that, IMO. I don't believe it is against the law - just

the policy of that particular lab - but it's a very common lab -

Quest laboratories.

[Guest guest]

never ask the labs for the results, unless you're doing your own labs. You will

have to go through the dr for any labs that any physician requests. The dr does

have to give a copy to you though if you request it.

SandyE~Houston

Labs

Does anyone know the law about patients getting their lab results? The

last time I went for blood tests I requested a copy of the lab results

to be sent to me as well as my dr.. They told me they couldn't do that

and that the dr. would go over it with me.

I am in New York, anyone have any experience in personally getting their

results?

Thanks,

Doreen

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

Am I supposed to be expecting something in the mail from you?

Caroline

Re: Labs

never ask the labs for the results, unless you're doing your own labs. You

will have to go through the dr for any labs that any physician requests. The dr

does have to give a copy to you though if you request it.

SandyE~Houston

[Guest guest]

yes, you can get a copy from your dr, but the lab is not going to give you a

copy. You can however sign a paper at your dr's office stating that you want a

xerox copy of the labs, and they will mail them to your home address if it's not

time for your appt. I thought this was ridiculous too, because I have always

had them faxed, but my last dr's visit to the pcp, where she only tested

TSH.....I had to go by and pick them up? It's got something to do with the

privacy act. I personally do not care who knows I'm hypothyroid! lol.

SandyE~Houston

Re: Labs

I went through something like that a few months ago. I went

directly to the lab and tried to get my results. I was

flabbergasted when they told me I couldn't have them. They told me

I'd have to get them from my doctor. There is something seriously

wrong with that, IMO. I don't believe it is against the law - just

the policy of that particular lab - but it's a very common lab -

Quest laboratories.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/28/2004 7:28:06 AM Eastern Standard Time,

kzlists@... writes:

> I think WE should be the holders of our health file and the doctors can be

> ALLOWED to review it in order to treat

i love this!

cindi

[Guest guest]

Outrageous! I know labs often will NOT directly give you your own info. I

learned to get a copy of my results from the doctor. I think they do it to build

in a second visit! If your doctor won't give you a copy, you need a new doctor.

Late in my life after I went back to get some records and found they had been

destroyed and it was not necessary to let me know that was going to happen. I

think we approach the whole thing wrong. I think WE should be the holders of our

health file and the doctors can be ALLOWED to review it in order to treat. I

have a life history but have very little paper to show for it. I can't remember

all the things I've been told, or even the meds I've tried. I have no history of

changes in my labs. Wouldn't I and my " consultants " (drs) be better for it if I

had that history. Grrrr.

Kate

Re: Labs

I went through something like that a few months ago. I went

directly to the lab and tried to get my results. I was

flabbergasted when they told me I couldn't have them. They told me

I'd have to get them from my doctor. There is something seriously

wrong with that, IMO. I don't believe it is against the law - just

the policy of that particular lab - but it's a very common lab -

Quest laboratories. I wanted to yell at them - " but it's my blood

you tested!!! They are MY results!!! " Even the doctor was reluctant

to tell me the actual lab values. He just told me everything was

a " little low " or a " little high " . Of course, that's just one of

the many reasons he's my ex-doctor.

It makes me want to set up my own little home laboratory. I'd like

to dispense with testing altogether but I'm trying to get pregnant

again and will need other things tested as well, like progesterone,

blood sugar, etc. Maybe after (if) I have another child, I'll just

stop seeing doctors entirely.

-Anne

[Guest guest]

I agree we the people should be the holders of our own personal records, no

matter what they are. In fact we ARE allowed to have & keep all our own medical

records including test results, dates/times & amounts of Rx meds taken & what

for.

All we have to do is call or go to the place they're located & sign a release

form to have them released to us. Usually this is done when changing doctors for

instance for all x-rays, mammograms, bone density, MRIs & other such tests. I've

gone & gotten mine from radiologists offices, hospitals, doctors offices,

numerous times & brought them personally to new doctors & chiropractors.

I have several huge binders full of my own medical records dating back to 20

years ago. I made copies of them all for myself before transferring them to new

doctors because I've had to move/relocate so many times to new towns or cities &

wanted my own history to transfer to new drs & chiropractors or accupuncturists

myself.

BUT....what I haven't got is blood draw lab tests results I've noticed. So those

should be released to us, when asked, by our doctors, no questions asked. For

its the doctors who've got them. I need to get all those for myself.

If we need to sign a release form to get them, then that's okay too. Just ask

for one, sign it & get the lab tests. It's a nuisance but it can be done.

Since my new doctor should now have my entire medical records in her hands by

now, next time I see her in a week or so, I'm going to ask her to give me ALL of

them for myself. If I have to sign a medical release form releasing them to

myself, then that's okay too. I'll do it.

Caroline

Re: Re: Labs

Outrageous! I know labs often will NOT directly give you your own info. I

learned to get a copy of my results from the doctor. I think they do it to build

in a second visit! If your doctor won't give you a copy, you need a new doctor.

Late in my life after I went back to get some records and found they had been

destroyed and it was not necessary to let me know that was going to happen. I

think we approach the whole thing wrong. I think WE should be the holders of our

health file and the doctors can be ALLOWED to review it in order to treat. I

have a life history but have very little paper to show for it. I can't remember

all the things I've been told, or even the meds I've tried. I have no history of

changes in my labs. Wouldn't I and my " consultants " (drs) be better for it if I

had that history. Grrrr.

Kate