Medical professionals in the U.S. have been debating the use of electronic medical records (EMRs) since the Obama administration’s serious introduction of the issue as a part of recent stimulus funds for doctors and hospitals. Patients across the country have been watching and weighing in, as many of us have experienced some level of difficulty obtaining information about our own care and treatment from our own doctors.
This month Elizabeth Cohen of CNN communicated a few simple tips for patients interested in obtaining their medical records with as little trouble as possible. And although the issue of EMRs is sure to take several more turns before any wide spread policies are adopted, your BBB wants you to be prepared. Read the tips below and click here for the full article.
1. Know Your Rights
View the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which governs access to medical records, gives hospitals and doctors 30 days to respond to a request for medical records, although some state laws provide for a shorter time frame, and in urgent situations, such as a transfer to another hospital, it’s customary for hospitals to move more quickly.
Also request your records in writing and keep a record of this request. Hospitals may allow you to fax or email the form, while others will require you to bring it in person.
2. Get Help
Some doctors’ offices will help you request past records from other practitioners. It doesn’t hurt to ask!
3. Know What is Required of Your Doctor
Your doctor doesn’t have to give you access to everything in your record. For example, your doctor doesn’t have to give you access to information he or she thinks might cause you or someone else substantial harm, says the senior health information privacy specialist at the Department of Health and Human Services.
For more from the Indiana State Medical Association, click here.
4. Don’t Take No For an Answer
You may have to do some homework to learn exactly what is required or allowed, but it will be worth it in order to obtain your information.
5. File a complaint
If you have trouble getting access, you can file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Contact your BBB for more information about a doctor or hospital in your area.
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