Do you ask for your medical records? If you do is it from all your doctors? If you get them are they the same as they send to other doctors?
sick
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
hi there sick,
You prob have to pay thu the nose to get then, but yes they should be same as they sent other docs.
May contain lots of errors and info they didnt tell you, be prepared. Funny what they write vs what they say.
Depending what you need them for whether its worth all that. Never hurts to keep for yourself cause they wont.
They only 'have' to keep them for a few years and those fly by real fast
take care
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
I had to pay 25 cents per page to get my medical records... but it was worth it.
I will never have to step foot or call into the office that wrote my 11 year old son had "normal gout" after he was not better with 28 days of amoxy.
Posted by melindacf (Member # 5412) on :
Does anyone know how many years they keep test result records like MRI's, and EMG's? I should look into getting those if they still have them. I know it's been probably 5 years ago or more since those tests were done. I have some of my specialists records, but not near all of them. When you switch LLMD's do they need to see all of them? just curious. I went yesterday to get the report on a CT scan I had done last year at a local hospital for my llmd, as they never gave him his copy. I called ahead and they had it ready for me when I arrived and did not charge me anything. FYI
Posted by gmb (Member # 23562) on :
Labs will tend to give you a copy of your test. Afterall you paid for them. But most Dr's get real defensive abouts giving you a copies. I just fired my PCP of 11 years, who doesn't agree with my Lyme dx or treatment. I also fired my Rhumy who wanted to give me steroids.
I got a new PCP who will be Lyme treatment supportive, and take care of my normal health stuff. I sent each of the old duck a form letter that I pullled of the web and signed that authorized them to release copies of ALL medical records to the new Dr. As a professional courtesy they should comply with no fee.
I'll then get the records from my new Dr to see if anything important was omitted.
google: Medical Release Authorization Form
gmb
Posted by sick (Member # 9143) on :
Good idea.
sick
Posted by AlanaSuzanne (Member # 25882) on :
gmb, it depends on state law as to whether labs are allowed to release test results to you directly.
I ALWAYS get copies of lab tests from docs. I have not encountered any defensiveness. IF an explanation is requested I simply say it's for my own record-keeping and/or to pass along to other docs. Some docs are very informal and will just send you the results. Others require you to fill out a form.
Sorry to hear you've had such a hard time.
Posted by Laura_W (Member # 31491) on :
I walk into my dr's offices with a blue folder. It has all my labs from the last year. As well as all medical imaging, all tests that have been performed since this has all started. Because I see so many doctors it is easier to have the information on me.
And it has been very useful for my doctors. Because there have been times where they have wondered something out loud... and I pull my records and they can look thru them. Computers are great but, when they are wanting to know when the last time a certain test was ran, and it might have been ordered by a different dr... or they want to compare results, Its great to have them on hand.
And because of this, they know that information is a two way street with me. I ALWAYS have copies of all labs that are done, as well as all MRI's and stuff like that.
Getting the dictation notes from the specialists is what I need to work on a bit more.
Sick- The dictated reports you get will be the same as what they send to other doctors. Unless they don't send you everything. But, it is possible that they may also send a letter to the dr giving an opinion.... or if they are really interested in giving that other dr an opinion they will do so by telephone, so they can give the opinion unoficially without evidence of doing so.
Posted by sick (Member # 9143) on :
Laura_W Since I have never got records from any of thedoctors I've seen where do I start? I've been to so many doctors theylast year and a half. Do you go in person to get, write and ask. What is best?
Posted by sick (Member # 9143) on :
Do you ask every time you visit your doctor?
Posted by pooldog71 (Member # 21722) on :
If another doctor requests them, they may not charge you anything. They call it a professional courtesy.
Posted by Richard1062 (Member # 19233) on :
Wait a minute...they are YOUR records, not the personal property of the Dr.
You always have the right to see them, and so far as I know you can always get copies too. Some offices charge for copies and some don't.
We have every lab ever done on our daughter since she first got Lyme -- thanks to good advice on LymeNet. Our drs have gotten used to us asking at every visit, and they don't think twice about it. Remember, they're supposed to be on your team, not your adversary.
Posted by mom2kids (Member # 31972) on :
Usually if you go to the doc to get the results from testing and you ask for a copy of the results they will just give them to you. If you ask for a years worth they may charge you for the copies, you will have to sign a release and they legally have 30 days to get them to you. It may be different in every state, but thats how it is in my state.
It's a good idea to keep your own copies whether you are sick or not. It's just a good idea to have them all in one place instead of spread all out at different doc offices.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by mom2kids: Usually if you go to the doc to get the results from testing and you ask for a copy of the results they will just give them to you. If you ask for a years worth they may charge you for the copies, you will have to sign a release and they legally have 30 days to get them to you. It may be different in every state, but thats how it is in my state.
It's a good idea to keep your own copies whether you are sick or not. It's just a good idea to have them all in one place instead of spread all out at different doc offices.
- Amen to that.
Posted by sick (Member # 9143) on :
Sick- Do you ask for the dictated reports from each visit?