Re: Question about obtaining med records + seasonale

[Guest guest]

Hi JanG, you absolutely are entitled to your records. They belong to

you by law. This is one point of all these privacy etc. etc.

disclaimers we seem to be signing every time we go to a doctor's

office in the past year.

When I had trouble with a disorganized medical office that never

sends what I request, I finally said I would come in on such and such

a day on my lunch hour and pick up the records (rather than

repeatedly insisting on them sending them to me). This worked in that

case.

If something like this doesn't work (or is not practical for you),

you probably need to write a letter and put the fear of establishing

a " record " of the problem into their heads (politely of course).

Do you have a copy of this thing you probably have signed in the last

year? If not, see if you can look it up on the web.

My suggestion if you need to write: a firm, no nonsense (and not

emotional) letter to the doctor's office first thanking them for

their excellent care (since this sounds true), and stating that you

understand you are entitled to your records, quoting from the privacy

provisions if you have them (or can find them), stating that you sent

check no. ____ in the amount of $____ on such and such a date, and

you have still not received the records.

And that you value your relationship with your doctor (assuming this

is also true) and hope that this matter can be resolved quickly since

you have an unrelated medical condition that may be impacted by your

not having access to these records....

Or, alternatively, that if you don't receive the records by [date],

you feel you have no choice but to get legal advice to protect your

rights....

Or, second alternative (or something to consider in the future),

since you live in NYC (as I do) and it seems like NYC has the highest

per capital population of lawyers in the world (that's not even a

joke) -- do you have a lawyer acquaintance that would put their

signature to a letter for you? This worked for a friend of mine who

absolutely could not pry her records out of the hands of an arrogant

and nasty specialist (I think NYC has the highest per capita

population of these, too) who had possibly misdiagnosed her (not a

gyne or a gyne condition in this case).

Let us know what happens. This is a persistent and infuriating

problem that continues to come up on this list from time to time, and

I think sharing approaches helps.

Sunny

> Anyone know if these folks have a right to hold back on my records?

I have an ongoing medical issue unrelated to my fibroids or ovaries

and I need these records ASAP. I'm in NY so if anyone has a clue about

my rights regarding this matter I'm glad for any help:)

[Guest guest]

A few ideas.

1)Get a copy of the hospital or clinic's patient bill of rights - so

you know your rights to your medical information

2) Contact the NY State DOH. Here is the direct number re: patient

rights to medical records.

For information regarding records held by physicians or health care

facilities:

1-

-- In uterinefibroids , " jangulatti "

wrote:

> Anyone know if these folks have a right to hold back on my records?

I have an ongoing medical issue unrelated to my fibroids or ovaries

and I need these records ASAP. I'm in NY so if anyone has a clue about

my rights regarding this matter I'm glad for any help:)

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

The normal procedure to have medical records transferred to another

dr would be to request for them in writing. I normally walk my

request into the Dr's office and it takes less than a week for my new

dr to receive my paperwork. What I found strange is that you made a

payment for copies of your medical records to be fwded to another dr.

I have NEVER made payment for that to be done, maybe some of the

other ladies on the board can relate better to that one. Yes, I'm

also in NY on Long Island.

Shaunah

P.S. I have made a payment for copies of songrams but that is all.

-- In uterinefibroids , " jangulatti "

wrote:

> So- I've sent payment for my copies weeks ago and still nothing and

> the nurses in his office are less than helpful now that I've turned

> down the hyst op.

> Anyone know if these folks have a right to hold back on my records?

I have an ongoing medical issue unrelated to my fibroids or ovaries

and I need these records ASAP. I'm in NY so if anyone has a clue about

my rights regarding this matter I'm glad for any help:)

[Guest guest]

your records.

I work in the medical field and there are 2 things to add.

firts, legally your medical records are YOUR property. You have the

right to any or all of them. Two, with the new HIPAA laws that went

into effect in April of 2003, it's almost impossible for any

doctor's office to send your records outside of their office without

a signed Authorization of Release of Records by you.

Did you sign a release? If not, that could be the problem. As for

charging you, I am told that because of the price of copying

records, some doctor's offices do charge.

-- In uterinefibroids , " myrtle9e6 "

wrote:

> The normal procedure to have medical records transferred to

another dr would be to request for them in writing. I normally walk my

> request into the Dr's office and it takes less than a week for my

new dr to receive my paperwork. What I found strange is that you made

a payment for copies of your medical records to be fwded to another

dr.

> In uterinefibroids , " jangulatti "

> wrote:

> > Anyone know if these folks have a right to hold back on my

records?

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sunny,

Did finally call my lawyer today and he recommended another attorney

to help me with this.

JanG

- In uterinefibroids , " sun2dae "

wrote:

> Hi JanG, you absolutely are entitled to your records. They belong

> to you by law.

> Or, alternatively, that if you don't receive the records by [date],

> you feel you have no choice but to get legal advice to protect your

> rights....

[Guest guest]

Shaunah,

I've been told that if my records were sent to- say for instance my

gp they (GP) would then not be able to release them to me or to

another gyn (because these were procedures not ordered by gp doc).

I'm seeing specialists that insist on having the records before hand

and they assured me that I'm entitled to them. I made payment for

copies sent to me as my med issue requires me to seek various

opinions.

I did request in writing, sent check and followed the instructions

set by that dr's office. This dr. is being a pain, my myo dr.s offic

had no issue turning my records over to me in my hand.

Thanks for your input,

Jan G

-- In uterinefibroids , " myrtle9e6 "

wrote:

> The normal procedure to have medical records transferred to another

> dr would be to request for them in writing.

[Guest guest]

Thank you:)

> 1)Get a copy of the hospital or clinic's patient bill of rights -

> so you know your rights to your medical information

> 2) Contact the NY State DOH. Here is the direct number re: patient

> rights to medical records. For information regarding records held by

physicians or health care facilities:1-

>

[Guest guest]

Yes , Of course I signed a release. I did everything this dr.s office

said to do. I don't care about the cost of copies. Doesn't come close

to the cost of the many second op's I'm still paying for because I

believed this bufoon of a doc.

Thanks,

Jan G

> > > Anyone know if these folks have a right to hold back on my

> records?

[Guest guest]

File a complaint with the DOH or at least threaten you are going to

do so. No hospital/clinic wants the DOH coming to visit. You will get

your records. Cheaper than a lawyer

> Yes , Of course I signed a release. I did everything this dr.s

> office said to do. I don't care about the cost of copies. Doesn't come

> close to the cost of the many second op's I'm still paying for because I

> believed this bufoon of a doc.