Medical Records- Important Fact

[Sunnytoday]

Everyone needs a copy of their records. Becuase many doctor's can (they are legally allowed to) to destroy them after several years. Each state has it's own laws that fall in accordinance with HIPAA...for example in Alabama the cardio doc's purge in fives years and destroy your records after seven years, as do many other doctors. Cases differ ( psych, drug, alcohold, and minors must all be kept longer and of course there are a few other differences as well).


This can be important if your LP's, or other important information is positive and you want future doctor's to know this... you may not be able to obtain these records 8 or 10 years in the future from doctor's that you weren't seeing or keeping current patient status with, as these records will be taken out and destroyed after seven years. Please, start building a record now with all your information in it. Also, note that hospital do this too, but often keep information longer in storage or in microfilm, but often keep it on microfilm or in storage instead of destroying it quite so fast.

As I said, it does depend on your state and your facilities policy as to how fast they destroy records, but I did want to just let you to all know how imprtant this is to get copies of all tests results and pertinant information so that you will have it in the future.

~Sunnytoday~
PS will tell more about the new job in a journal at the end of the week

[Erin0313]

  Hey I need to correct my "story" on the records. I don't want to upset any Mayo Clinic patients.

I actually tried to get records from John's Hopkins and they couldn't provide them. The Mayo Clinic records were available when asked for. I guess I traveled too much to even keep track ( one more reason to get your records fast, lol.)

Sorry about the mistake

Erin :)

[Lulu54]

ST- great reminder about the records.  Thanks ! Lu

PS - still wanting to hear about the job - I'll be patient for your journal.

[Erin0313]

Sunny,

  I agree 100% and have experience with the records being gone. I am so glad that you brought it up for everyone - especially those that are still undiagnosed!!!!

I went to The Mayo clinic years ago and they mentioned something about "looking out" for a possible blood disease in the future. They couldn't diagnose me at the time so I left frustrated and didn't think about it for years. Then when I did my records were gone!!

I had autoimmune hemolytic anemia and by the time my current doctors figured it out I was admitted to the hospital for several blood transfusions. I wish I would have had the records!

Now I get copies of all tests done and bring them to my doctors that didn't order them for their files & keep one in mine (it's quite fat).

Great advice - everyone please take this to heart :)

Erin

[hbananas]

Thank you for your helpful insider information.  Looking forward to the journal entry.

[Sunnytoday]

hope this makes sense, i'm dead tired. stood all day.