Patients rights for getting Test result reports!

Jyes · 09-26-2006, 08:06 AM

I do want to say, I have always gotten my reports, but the Imaging Center says only from the Referring Doctor, and my family Doctor says only from the Referring Doctor, and my PM Doctor has said only from the referring Doctor, so something is up!

I am going to call the Imaging Center this morning and ask for my report and see what answer I get, and if they say no, I will want the explanation plain and clear.
Oh, I called the NS office yesterday morning as instructed last Thursday when I requested the report and even though it is over a week now, the lady said no report or film is in their office yet!

First the lady told my I got the wrong extension that I needed to talk to the Medical Records section, I told her that is who I talked to on Thursday and they told me to call XXXX(YOU) on Monday morning at this extension! She said OH, took my name, asked what day my appointment was for and said she would check to see if the film and report is there for the Oct 3rd appointment files... Whatever that means.

She said nothing has arrived yet and that she would call me back when the report arrives.

Somehow I get the feeling no phone call will come.....

Jyes

Fancylady_2006 · 09-26-2006, 08:18 AM

Any report I have ever wanted I could get, if I seen my family Dr and told him. He could put in a request and get it, then I just went to his office and got it. It was that simple.
Fancylady

Jyes · 09-26-2006, 08:21 AM

I just talked to the Imaging Center and they said no problem getting the report, so off I go.........
Now, I really wish I knew what their true policy is. Why I am told at the time of the testing that I cannot get a copy of the report, and now I can, but at least within the hour I will have it regardless...............
Oh, I have asked many times before about getting a copy from them and it has always been as I stated before, they will give me the film to take to the Doctor but not the report.......

Jyes

Evreux · 03-02-2007, 03:04 PM

These are available on the internet and people should be reading them. Be prepared, the staff in the Dr's and Surgeons office try to treat you like a mushroom. When they answer you back with an unacceptable answer start quoting these laws, I guarantee that the majority of those employees have not even been counseld or trained on policy (or even make an effort unless directed by their supv).

I agree with the advice you were given. The facility where the XRAYS, MRI, CT, Myelogram, etc, will give you a copy, but not before the doctor has acknowledged that he received it. They have no way to know if you discussed it with the Doc yet, only that the Doc received it. The facility that I had my tests done, told me that this is standard practice. I don't see jack before the Doc counsels me. Then he suggest what he wants to do, I go and get the report look it over, get on the net and research it further. Then I am better educated for the next appointment regarding the issue.

I also agree that they almost never tell you everything that is found to be a flaw, something that may distress you, or otherwise need further action. That is very common. Look out for yourself. This is all routine for doctors and surgeons, but not the patient. I hate to keep putting myself into your thread, but I too was also not told about a disk protrusion in another area that I complained about, I had to ask the Doc myself what was up with it and did the MRI show anything. I got "Oh yeah, since you ask, you also have a disk in the ___area that is protruding" Jeez..I understand your frustration. There should be a law that after whatever test(s) are done, that upon initial counseling that the patient is also given the test results by the Doc who is actually counseling the patient.

janiebrainey · 11-27-2012, 04:10 PM

I appreciate this posting. I just had a brain MRI yesterday and was told by both the facility and my neuro's office that they prefer not to give patients' their reports. It has always been my practice to get copies of my reports to help to formulate my questions and not waste the doctor's time with basic definitions. Glad to hear I'm not the only one - thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jyes

One thing that my dear friend Bobbi has taught me over the past couple years is to make sure you get a copy of the report of any test or procedure you have done. I have since done so and made up a great health records book, of which the reports are but just one section.

I gone back to some of my previous specialists and asked for copies of previous MRI's, EMG's, X-Rays and such and although for some I had to pay a $10 Search fee and than $1 per page of report, I did have no problem securing copies of most of my major tests and procedures from the past 5 years.

Today I had a problem and it kinda irked me the way I was spoken to and I am usually fairly nice to everybody but the two individuals I spoke to today made my bp rise a bit.

First I called my PM Doctor office and asked if they had received a copy of my Thoracic MRI that I had done on Monday morning. The answer was, we were not the referring Doctor so we won't get the report and even if we do, we cannot let you have a copy!!

Well, they did not have the report yet, and yes I have heard the same thing from my family doctor's office, that only the referring physician can give you a copy of the MRI or whatever report!

Does anybody know what really says they cannot let me have a copy of my own report that I paid for and is about Meeeee? :mad:

OK, so I then called the NS office, which that Doctor was the referring Doctor for my MRI. The individual in that office was not to make me any happier today. She said "No, we have not received it yet" I said fine, I will call again tomorrow. She then said, "Well you better speak to the nurse since only the nurse can discuss your report". I told her I did NOT want to discuss the report, I only wanted a COPY of the MRI report.

I explained to her I want a copy of the MRI report so I can read it before I see the Doctor on October 3rd. Well, now she got sort of belligerent and said "we don't usually give out the report before you see the Doctor" "You will have to call Ext XXX on Monday and talk to our supervisor and see what she says...

I told her I want my report before I see the Doctor, so I know what is in it, and that I can be prepared to ask questions rather than get blind sided by the Doctor on what he says. She did not understand this and I politely said, fine, I will call the supervisor on Monday to get my copy........

I really think it is stupid that the patient automatically does not receive a copy of any test that is done! I have found that Doctors are very good at not reading the reports thoroughly and miss stuff, and I want to cover my own self and see all that was said.

My best two examples of not trusting Doctors on telling all, is I had a bicycle crash back in the 90's. Had X-Rays taken of the legs, hands and chest area.
Well, the one finger was broken without a doubt and the hospital put it in a splint, the ribs were cracked and I was told to see my Doctor for a followup in a couple weeks.

I knew I had a very painful hand and was sure I broke a bone in the hand itself, but nobody said anything to me. On my followup visit to my family MD, the Doctor asked me "finger looks good, how's the broken hand doing?" That was the first time I was told the bone in my hand was cracked, two weeks after the accident. If I had a copy of the report I would have known,and why the hospital did not say it was broken, I don't know.

And last year when I fell off the ladder and went to the emergency room, I was discharged with no instructions about a followup visit. Well, a couple months later I got a copy of the X-Rays and report and in there it was stated I had a linear lucency which requires further clinical evaluation. Well, that is an indicator of a cracked bone, and this was in my L2 vertebrae! No one ever said anything to me, and my family doctor had the report and never said a word.

So, bottom line is, always get a copy of your reports and make sure you ask questions about what is in the report and darn it, hope you can even get a copy without much hassle.

Sorry for the long post, but it's been a long day for meeee..

Jyes

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