Understanding How and Why to Get Copies of Your Medical Records

Because of my career choice, as well as my personal mission in life, I am constantly lecturing people to get copies of their medical records! This is important for so many reasons.

First, you should be getting them to build and keep a personal medical file for yourself at home. This way you have easy access to your own records and quickly. If you get diagnosed with a new illness, or wind up in a medical emergency situation and doctors have questions about your past medical history, you, or your loved ones, can quickly access information about all your past blood work, PAP smear results, blood test results, prior surgeries, medical allergies and more just by having that information handy.

Second, never EVER trust the motto "no news is good news!" Whenever you have ANY medical test performed, from annual PAP smears or mammograms to blood work, ultrasounds, MRIs, x-rays, or any test at all, call and ask what the results were!

Then after you are satisified you understand what the doctor or medical staff has advised you, ask for a copy of it! Read it! Be sure it has YOUR NAME on it, correct information, and the results appear to be what the doctor explained to you. If you have ANY questions at all, make sure you ask. Quite a number of clients I meet could have avoided my office all together, had they simply followed up with their doctor, asked for the results and made sure they had a copy.

Human error is unavoidable. Papers will get lost, misfiled, and test results can even get switched and reported to incorrect patients and much much more. I see it more than you would like to know. Do YOUR part by confirming the test results when you get your own copy.

All you need to do is ask the doctor's staff or doctor themselves for a copy of these test results. You can even ask for a copy of your entire chart if you so desire because you have the legal right to have it. The law in New Jersey says that they have 30 days from the date you ask for it to provide it to you.

Most will provide it right away if it is not a problem with duplicating the information. Same goes for any hospital or nursing home or rehabilitation facility. They cannot refuse to give it to you. They can ask you to sign a release of private information or to pay for photocopying charges - $1.00 per page, no more than $110.00 maximum for an entire chart - REGARDLESS of how large it may be for a doctor's office chart and $215.00 maximum for a hospital record - REGARDLESS of its size.  

Not all doctors or medical facilities like to cooperate when a patient asks for their records. I get calls daily from people who are told they cannot have their chart or the only way they can get it is if they give them the information of their new doctor or second opinion doctor and they will send it on to them directly.

THIS IS NOT TRUE. You have a right to have a copy of your own records PERSONALLY and you do NOT have to have it sent on to another doctor or medical facility.

If you have any problems with constant refusal of a doctor with giving you your medical records, you can call the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners, (609) 826-7100. It is an automated system.

Press the option that says if you wish to "file a complaint" against a doctor. Tell them what your concern is and they WILL have an investigator from the department call you back and assist you in getting your medical records. They are very helpful and take these complaints very seriously. There is no fee associated with them helping you either.

So get your medical records. Understand your own medical history by reading them. Get familiar with the medical tests, diagnosis, and other terms connected to your medical history. Participate. Ask questions when appropriate. This may help avoid certain errors. Why wait until its too late to fix it?