I am seeing a naturopath soon and am nervous that they will want me to sign papers to have my other doctor release my records.
In the past I saw a doctor that I really liked. She had all of my medical records and was working with me as a patient. I decided I wanted to see a naturopath as well.
When I went to see this "naturopath" I signed all the papers to have all my records sent to him. He turned out to be a horrible doctor and not at all a naturopath.
The next time I tried to make an appointment with the doctor I had been seeing that I really liked, I was told that I was now an in valid patient since they no longer had my records. I asked if I could get the records back and become a patient again but they wouldn't do it.
I thought it was all very strange and still don't understand it.
Anyway, I don't want the same thing to happen this time. I already have a doctor that I really like but feel I could use the opinion of a naturopath (a real one this time) as well.
I don't know what to do. Will my current doctor be upset if I get records transferred? I don't even know if I will like this new doctor or if I will ever have more than this initial appointment. I can't risk alienating my current doctor.
Would it seem weird to refuse to sign the papers if they ask for it?
Is it the norm for doctors to get upset that you are having medical info released to another doctor?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Do you keep your own records? You could ask this new ND to accept your copies of test results, etc.
I can see why a Dr might get upset if you left the practice. And I would think most MD's don't have high opinions of ND's.
Go "interview" the new Dr first... maybe several times before doing anything concrete. If you have to refuse, tell him why and what happened before.
Posted by lax mom (Member # 38743) on :
That's very weird. You have the right to see whomever you want and have your records sent over as well. They don't send the originals to another Dr anyway.
That makes no sense to me. I have been to many, many Drs, Integrative Drs, Specialists, etc, etc and never had a Dr even mention that I had forwarded records to someone else. I don't think it's very professional.
Since when does having records sent to a Dr mean you are quitting your original Dr?
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
These days, having your records go to untried doctors is asking for trouble. You never know when one of them will want to cause problems for a lyme doc. And it might make a doc wonder how much you are following his/her advice or someone else's, or combination.
In the past when I walked into a new doc with a big pile of records, there was a question in my mind how much of it they would read. So, now I wait and see if the doc asks for records and see how well this patient/doc relationship works.
Posted by gigimac (Member # 33353) on :
I am thinking about just declining to sign any papers. I don't want to start this relationship out on the wrong foot but I don't want to jeopardize my relationship with the current doctor who is important to me.
Perhaps I will just say I don't want to sign for medical release just yet and see how things go.
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
Just ALWAYS get copies of your medical records from docs and hospitals. That will eliminate the problem of having to sign medical releases.
You're the manager of your lab results, x-ray results, etc. --no one else.
With Lyme/cos most of us tend to see many practitioners. I think most docs realize this. I've yet to encounter a doc who has been offended by this. If he/she was offended, that would be it for me.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by beaches:
Just ALWAYS get copies of your medical records from docs and hospitals. That will eliminate the problem of having to sign medical releases.
You're the manager of your lab results, x-ray results, etc. --no one else.
- Amen .. learn this now before it's too late. I went to a new doctor (PCP) about 12 yrs ago and I had my "records" sent over to him. When we had our first appointment, he only had about 3 pages in my file.
So .. they don't even send stuff your new Dr may need. Save your own set of records.
Posted by trimom (Member # 25843) on :
You don't want records transferred but copies sent...big difference. Call or stop by your current doctor's office and ask them about your files and how they handle making copies for other practitioners.
Many larger practices have on line records you can access and print out due to requirements of electronic records. I have two main hospitals I have gone to last 13 years, and was able to ask for all my test results from one and other I could print them all off.
Posted by gigimac (Member # 33353) on :
Thanks everyone. I do have copies of my pos. tests for lyme and co. but that's it.
do they really need to see the multiple x rays, mri's and blood tests that came back fine?
How would I go about getting all my records from the zillions of dr.'s I have seen?
Most of it if not all of it just shows I was "fine" outside of the lyme and co. tests and one low vita d test. My blood work etc. was always good.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
My ND didn't have me sign ANY papers like that.
I just brought my test results and we went from there.
My ND seems to want as little to do with the typical medical establishments as possible.
I guess it depends on the doc.
Sorry to hear about the bad ND experience.
Posted by gigimac (Member # 33353) on :
Thanks everyone. You are right Judie, the ND did not have me sign any papers like that so it was fine anyway!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i went to a pain management doctor once and he wnated me to sign all these papers. it said i could not go to other doctors or discuss any treatments, medications, etc., with anyone. i could not go to a hospital and discuss my treatment there either.
there were so many red flags that i said no way, and i never went back.
i am not going to give anyone control over me or my medical records.
he also wanted me to say that he could admit me if he decided it was in the patient;s best interest. not on your life....
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Randibear,
This issue is very different regarding doctors who prescribe pain medicines. They want to be sure the pain med "shoppers" can't go from one doctor to another for multiple prescriptions. Some do that, not just to get more for themselves but to sell on the street for profit.
Still, it sure sounds like the parameters of that pain management doctor's forms and rules were way off base, though. Way off base. -