Aa
how many of you have checked your medical records?
This is a response to designgyrl's post about innacurate information.. but since I am also asking everyone a new question, I thought I would post a new question.
I, too, have experienced innacurate information with my doctors. Here are a few examples:
My prescription reads, take 1 every 4-6 hours not to exceed 6 in 24 hours. I have been telling my PM doctor at every visit that I TOOK 2 at 3x a day before I came to see him AND I currently TAKE 2 at 3x a day. I tell him AND the nurse every single time I go in. He said once he would change it in my chart and is aware of how much I take - but it never gets changed. I picked up a prescription last week and it still reads, take 1 every 4-6 hours..etc.. Is it really a big deal? I mean, I can easily take 6 a day, and do... but I worry that my chart reads I take one 7.5 and in reality, I am taking 15mg at once - and that is a BIG difference! Exspecially since I have been on the same dose for years and am reaching a plateau - (I am trying to keep the dose the same, but it just doesn't work as well anymore)
The orthopedic doctor I just went to see for a consult after my last MRI, commented on my previous surgeries on 2 different disc levels. I had to correct him, that I have had ALL my surgeries on the SAME disc. Now, I also went to see this doctor 2 years ago after I had my second surgery - and he was looking at my MRI, and had my radiologists report, and had my files from the first visit... huh? He almost seemed surprised I had multiple surgeries on the same level!
I also know without a doubt, that doctors 'fudge' your medical records to make themselves look good. I have a copy of my medical records from the neurosurgeon who performed my last surgery (he took off for another another state a few months after my surgery). It is almost as if I have someone elses chart. It is full of how well he did and how quickly I recovered, I required no pain meds monthly, etc... The TOTAL opposite of what really happened. It's a good thing I can prove he was prescribing me pain meds through my pharmacy - or other doctors might question this.
The last time I went in to see my pain doctor, a new nurse met me first - she commented that it said in my chart how I refused to go see a doctor after my last MRI. (you see, the PM's office had phoned me at home after my last MRI telling me I needed to see a surgeon - I said I would like to discuss it with the PM doctor first and then go see who he recommends) I had to correct her and explain, I was more than willing to see another doctor regarding my MRI, but wanted to see my PM first to decide who is my best fit! She said,Ohhhhhh.
These are just a few examples and I know nothing has been corrected in my charts.
I also worry - how far do we go to make sure the information is correct? If the doctor say's he will change something - we have no choice but to trust him - or find another doctor.
I wonder if the majority of you went to get a copy of your medical records, you, too, would find error after error.... It's very scary since these records follow you everywhere!
Have any of you checked your medical records?
I, too, have experienced innacurate information with my doctors. Here are a few examples:
My prescription reads, take 1 every 4-6 hours not to exceed 6 in 24 hours. I have been telling my PM doctor at every visit that I TOOK 2 at 3x a day before I came to see him AND I currently TAKE 2 at 3x a day. I tell him AND the nurse every single time I go in. He said once he would change it in my chart and is aware of how much I take - but it never gets changed. I picked up a prescription last week and it still reads, take 1 every 4-6 hours..etc.. Is it really a big deal? I mean, I can easily take 6 a day, and do... but I worry that my chart reads I take one 7.5 and in reality, I am taking 15mg at once - and that is a BIG difference! Exspecially since I have been on the same dose for years and am reaching a plateau - (I am trying to keep the dose the same, but it just doesn't work as well anymore)
The orthopedic doctor I just went to see for a consult after my last MRI, commented on my previous surgeries on 2 different disc levels. I had to correct him, that I have had ALL my surgeries on the SAME disc. Now, I also went to see this doctor 2 years ago after I had my second surgery - and he was looking at my MRI, and had my radiologists report, and had my files from the first visit... huh? He almost seemed surprised I had multiple surgeries on the same level!
I also know without a doubt, that doctors 'fudge' your medical records to make themselves look good. I have a copy of my medical records from the neurosurgeon who performed my last surgery (he took off for another another state a few months after my surgery). It is almost as if I have someone elses chart. It is full of how well he did and how quickly I recovered, I required no pain meds monthly, etc... The TOTAL opposite of what really happened. It's a good thing I can prove he was prescribing me pain meds through my pharmacy - or other doctors might question this.
The last time I went in to see my pain doctor, a new nurse met me first - she commented that it said in my chart how I refused to go see a doctor after my last MRI. (you see, the PM's office had phoned me at home after my last MRI telling me I needed to see a surgeon - I said I would like to discuss it with the PM doctor first and then go see who he recommends) I had to correct her and explain, I was more than willing to see another doctor regarding my MRI, but wanted to see my PM first to decide who is my best fit! She said,Ohhhhhh.
These are just a few examples and I know nothing has been corrected in my charts.
I also worry - how far do we go to make sure the information is correct? If the doctor say's he will change something - we have no choice but to trust him - or find another doctor.
I wonder if the majority of you went to get a copy of your medical records, you, too, would find error after error.... It's very scary since these records follow you everywhere!
Have any of you checked your medical records?
I know I need to get mine especially since I've just gotten that urgent care doctor saying what he did. I thought the endodontists treated me a little strange last night about me taking medication, they told me to take aspirin, or ibuprofen for the pain, they handed me a sheet, and I told them that I take vicodin, and both doctors looked at each other and me, very strangly. They didn't ask why and I didn't reference it, but they did look at each other like they knew something, like the urgent care doctor. Especially after spending three hourse in the chair, brusing me, and shooting novicain, right in the tooth that had the hole in it, I screamed at that shot So, I need to get a copy of all my records and see what is being said. Then, it may be time to change a few doctors.
I read your post and you wrote that in TX patients are not entitled to their records. That's not true.
Federal Regulation has taken hold which mandates patient access to medical records. The Regulation is called the Privacy Rule and became effective April 14, 2001. All health care providers need to comply with the Rule and had 2 years (from 4/14/01) to comply. The Rule emphasizes that patients have a right to a copy of their medical record whenever the patient requests it. If the patient finds the provider not complying with the request, the patient should complain to the provider's Privacy Officer (every provider is required to have a Privacy Officer) or to the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services which has enforcement responsibility for the Privacy Rule.
PLEASE - Don't let ANYONE tell you that you do not have the right to have a copy of your records!
This is a Federal regulation - NOT by state....
Did your doctor tell you that you were not entitled to a copy?
Federal Regulation has taken hold which mandates patient access to medical records. The Regulation is called the Privacy Rule and became effective April 14, 2001. All health care providers need to comply with the Rule and had 2 years (from 4/14/01) to comply. The Rule emphasizes that patients have a right to a copy of their medical record whenever the patient requests it. If the patient finds the provider not complying with the request, the patient should complain to the provider's Privacy Officer (every provider is required to have a Privacy Officer) or to the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services which has enforcement responsibility for the Privacy Rule.
PLEASE - Don't let ANYONE tell you that you do not have the right to have a copy of your records!
This is a Federal regulation - NOT by state....
Did your doctor tell you that you were not entitled to a copy?
I'll say this again. Everyone should have a copy of their medical records, everyone and without exception!!
I have seen all my medical records and every three months I request the previous three months. Why? Because of the inaccuracies. You would be surprised the errors that are made to say nothing of what your providers are writing in your records.
I have seen other ppl's records (health care background) that actually contain information on another patient. Words were and are transposed and simple words can change the entire meaning of a sentence. Some are innocent mistakes. However some physicians or their staff aren't so innocent. Review your medical records!!
I didn't use to monitor my medical records. One day at the urging of a medical colleague and friend I requested a copy of them. She had seen some of my records but we were both bound by confidentiality not to reveal what we read in patients charts. After reviewing the records I promptly discharged my PCP of six years. I could not beleive the things he said about me. Horribly untrue things. He even made up some of the things that he wrote. Too many entries to go into here. But one entry by this "great" physician that I thought was next to God charted that I was bringing in baked goods. Baked good to "Ply the staff for narcotics. She claims to be in pain yet she is able to bake cookies" Little did he know that had it not been for the help of my dear aunt the cookies would have never been baked. I was not trying to "ply" anyone. I was thanking them for all their hard work and kindness. It was very difficult, even with my aunts help to bake those cookies. Indeed I was not even being prescribed narcotics from him or any other physician at the time. So you never know. I was shocked!
That was it. From that day forward I check my medical records. This PCP pretended to like me and pretended to have my best interest at heart. Never has any physician wrote the derogatory things that he did about me. Unfortunately I am no longer trusting. He ruined by ability to trust a physican again...until I met my current one. There is about 15 years between the two. That's a long time of distrust.
So please monitor your records. You have a legal right to them. They cannot withhold them from you for any reason.
Peace,
~Tuck
I have seen all my medical records and every three months I request the previous three months. Why? Because of the inaccuracies. You would be surprised the errors that are made to say nothing of what your providers are writing in your records.
I have seen other ppl's records (health care background) that actually contain information on another patient. Words were and are transposed and simple words can change the entire meaning of a sentence. Some are innocent mistakes. However some physicians or their staff aren't so innocent. Review your medical records!!
I didn't use to monitor my medical records. One day at the urging of a medical colleague and friend I requested a copy of them. She had seen some of my records but we were both bound by confidentiality not to reveal what we read in patients charts. After reviewing the records I promptly discharged my PCP of six years. I could not beleive the things he said about me. Horribly untrue things. He even made up some of the things that he wrote. Too many entries to go into here. But one entry by this "great" physician that I thought was next to God charted that I was bringing in baked goods. Baked good to "Ply the staff for narcotics. She claims to be in pain yet she is able to bake cookies" Little did he know that had it not been for the help of my dear aunt the cookies would have never been baked. I was not trying to "ply" anyone. I was thanking them for all their hard work and kindness. It was very difficult, even with my aunts help to bake those cookies. Indeed I was not even being prescribed narcotics from him or any other physician at the time. So you never know. I was shocked!
That was it. From that day forward I check my medical records. This PCP pretended to like me and pretended to have my best interest at heart. Never has any physician wrote the derogatory things that he did about me. Unfortunately I am no longer trusting. He ruined by ability to trust a physican again...until I met my current one. There is about 15 years between the two. That's a long time of distrust.
So please monitor your records. You have a legal right to them. They cannot withhold them from you for any reason.
Peace,
~Tuck
I've been REALLY fortunate as the 3 Doctors that have seen my Surgical GOOF MOST DEFINITELY said that the Surgeon screwed up!! I guess it was because there is NO CHANCE that it could have happened by itself.
It's such a shame that others AREN'T as lucky....Sherry
It's such a shame that others AREN'T as lucky....Sherry
The problem is that I have found there is a doctor 'brotherhood'... they protect their own.
One of the conditions I now have is one that most doctors do not want to recognize.. since it most likely means a doctor's hands caused it and there is NO cure. They are afraid to acknowledge it and say, yes - your doctor damaged your thecal sac during surgery..
When you look up that condition, Adhesive Arachnoiditis, they websites all read that doctors are hesitant to diagnose this condition - for fear of admitting fault and malpractice.
Thankfully, a senior radiologist was not afraid to report it. AND, if I had not picked up my report, my doctors never would have mentioned it to me! I had read my report before I went to see them. When they did not mention the probem to me, I told them I had seen the report and questioned them. Only then did they admit I had the condition.
One of the conditions I now have is one that most doctors do not want to recognize.. since it most likely means a doctor's hands caused it and there is NO cure. They are afraid to acknowledge it and say, yes - your doctor damaged your thecal sac during surgery..
When you look up that condition, Adhesive Arachnoiditis, they websites all read that doctors are hesitant to diagnose this condition - for fear of admitting fault and malpractice.
Thankfully, a senior radiologist was not afraid to report it. AND, if I had not picked up my report, my doctors never would have mentioned it to me! I had read my report before I went to see them. When they did not mention the probem to me, I told them I had seen the report and questioned them. Only then did they admit I had the condition.
I'm betting that it has to do First with their Malpractice Insurance as I bet that they HAVE to report on EVERY surgery that they do to them.
You HAVE to get SECOND OPINIONS if you feel that the surgery didn't go well. THEN after that check and see what your Surgeon wrote about your surgery in YOUR records!!
If you have a second opinion then it is NO longer a He said She said problem. NOW it becomes a Doctor "A" says, Doctor "B" says!! THAT makes a BIG difference!!
Good Luck....Sherry
You HAVE to get SECOND OPINIONS if you feel that the surgery didn't go well. THEN after that check and see what your Surgeon wrote about your surgery in YOUR records!!
If you have a second opinion then it is NO longer a He said She said problem. NOW it becomes a Doctor "A" says, Doctor "B" says!! THAT makes a BIG difference!!
Good Luck....Sherry
I did a quick search online - and most of the people who report that their medicals records are falsified, are reporting a surgeon's records!
I even found an article that was written to doctors regarding their ego's and desire (need) to keep records looking good. It seems that it is not uncommon for a doctor to say everything went well, even when there was a problem!
These reports must affect the surgeon somehow - either their insurance, the medical board, hospital privledges... or maybe it IS just their ego...
But what do we do, as patients? It is so very very difficult for us to say - the doctor lied, I never said that, he made that up... etc...
I even found an article that was written to doctors regarding their ego's and desire (need) to keep records looking good. It seems that it is not uncommon for a doctor to say everything went well, even when there was a problem!
These reports must affect the surgeon somehow - either their insurance, the medical board, hospital privledges... or maybe it IS just their ego...
But what do we do, as patients? It is so very very difficult for us to say - the doctor lied, I never said that, he made that up... etc...
SEE AGAIN, another surgical proceedure!! This is TRULY frightening!!!
I think that ANYONE that has had a surgical proceedure of ANY type should check their MEDICAL FILES immediately to offset ANY type of SURPRISE later down the LINE!!!
Just a suggestion....Sherry
I think that ANYONE that has had a surgical proceedure of ANY type should check their MEDICAL FILES immediately to offset ANY type of SURPRISE later down the LINE!!!
Just a suggestion....Sherry
Maybe laws are different in other states, but here in TX doctors are not legally obligated to release their notes to patients. Everything else like operative reports and test results belongs to the patient, but the doctor owns his notes. I always get copies of written reports - have a huge file going back some 18 years now - but never once have I seen the doctor's notes.
The one and only time I've busted a doctor with wrong information on me was circa 1995. This gynecologist had treated me for infertility and done 2 surgeries for endometriosis by then. A couple years after the last surgery I went in knowing it was back and worse than ever. He got p*ssy with me and swore up and down that I never had endo and he had never treated it. ??!!! Imagine how po'd he got when I pulled out the surgical reports and said, "Then what do you call this?" Had I not been desperate for treatment at the time, I would have found his backpedaling hilarious. He hadn't even left the room when I started getting dressed to leave. And no, I didn't stop to make my co-payment and his office never filed the claim. LOL!
I've been with the same gastro doc, surgeon and pain doc for many years so accessing their notes has never been an issue. Maybe I'll get surprised if I ever have to change, but they all work so closely together that I'd be shocked if anything shows up contrary to the truth.
The one and only time I've busted a doctor with wrong information on me was circa 1995. This gynecologist had treated me for infertility and done 2 surgeries for endometriosis by then. A couple years after the last surgery I went in knowing it was back and worse than ever. He got p*ssy with me and swore up and down that I never had endo and he had never treated it. ??!!! Imagine how po'd he got when I pulled out the surgical reports and said, "Then what do you call this?" Had I not been desperate for treatment at the time, I would have found his backpedaling hilarious. He hadn't even left the room when I started getting dressed to leave. And no, I didn't stop to make my co-payment and his office never filed the claim. LOL!
I've been with the same gastro doc, surgeon and pain doc for many years so accessing their notes has never been an issue. Maybe I'll get surprised if I ever have to change, but they all work so closely together that I'd be shocked if anything shows up contrary to the truth.
I got ALL of my records from my Cardiologist, Internist, Gastroenterologist and of course my "BAD" Surgeon.
The ONLY Records that were lies were that of my "BAD" Surgeon!!
Does ANYONE else see the Pattern here? It seems that the one Specialist that makes the MOST errors is the "BAD" Surgeons that people have!! I wonder do Surgeons have to report to ANY type of Group the outcome of their Surgeries that they do, maybe to get some sort of Professional Rating or Ranking of some sort? You know the success rates etc. OR are they just protecting their REARS from being SUED for Malpractice.
Just had a thought, I wonder if thaey have to report to their MALPRACTICE INSURANCE COMPANIES about their success rates. It MIGHT affect the rates that they have to pay for their MALPRACTICE INSURANCE!!
Does anyone have any inside information on that fact?
Good question Mummy!!
Thanks....Sherry
The ONLY Records that were lies were that of my "BAD" Surgeon!!
Does ANYONE else see the Pattern here? It seems that the one Specialist that makes the MOST errors is the "BAD" Surgeons that people have!! I wonder do Surgeons have to report to ANY type of Group the outcome of their Surgeries that they do, maybe to get some sort of Professional Rating or Ranking of some sort? You know the success rates etc. OR are they just protecting their REARS from being SUED for Malpractice.
Just had a thought, I wonder if thaey have to report to their MALPRACTICE INSURANCE COMPANIES about their success rates. It MIGHT affect the rates that they have to pay for their MALPRACTICE INSURANCE!!
Does anyone have any inside information on that fact?
Good question Mummy!!
Thanks....Sherry
wow - you, too??!!
I would fight them for a copy - we are entitled to have one! Are you going to keep trying?
I don't usually fight my doctors for much - but medical records are a MUST! They legally cannot not deny you a copy of any test or record...
I would fight them for a copy - we are entitled to have one! Are you going to keep trying?
I don't usually fight my doctors for much - but medical records are a MUST! They legally cannot not deny you a copy of any test or record...
I do not have a copy of any of my records, but I do know the surgeon lied in my chart in regards of my surgery. He stated that the surgery was a success and that I was pain free.
Not even close. My pain was off the charts unbearable and I was calling the office 3-4 times a week due to the unbearable pain. The surgeon's PA could not understand why I was calling because it was written in my charts that the surgery was a complete success and the pain was gone.
I just obtained an MRI report from that same surgeon's office and it says that I'm 100% fine and there is nothing wrong with me.(ANOTHER LIE) The MRI report stated there were no herniations! If you look at the film, you can clearly see there are TWO herniations. Unbelievable. I just tried to get a copy of my record there and they declined of copying it for me. They said they will let me come in and look at it, but I can not obtain my own copy. Something is clearly not right with this place.
Not even close. My pain was off the charts unbearable and I was calling the office 3-4 times a week due to the unbearable pain. The surgeon's PA could not understand why I was calling because it was written in my charts that the surgery was a complete success and the pain was gone.
I just obtained an MRI report from that same surgeon's office and it says that I'm 100% fine and there is nothing wrong with me.(ANOTHER LIE) The MRI report stated there were no herniations! If you look at the film, you can clearly see there are TWO herniations. Unbelievable. I just tried to get a copy of my record there and they declined of copying it for me. They said they will let me come in and look at it, but I can not obtain my own copy. Something is clearly not right with this place.
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