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?

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

Jyes, you should be able to get the report from the place you had the MRI. I sometimes go back to the place I had the test done, when I have forgotten to ask the doctor for the report. Sorry you had such a frustrating day.
Carolyn

Carolyn,
I asked the MRI facility before for reports and was told that only the referring physician can release them, in so many words..
I feel something is not right about that, maybe it is a NJ thing, I have no idea.

Jyes

It doesn't sound right, to meeee. I'd be looking up on, i.e., the AG's site in your state and then link on over to ones relating to medical or patient and consumer info.

My understanding is, and I may be mistaken and stand to be possibly corrected: Once a patient makes a written request this or that has to be released within "x" number of days (and that number of days is dependent on the state).

If the facility won't release them and it is the "law" in the state, then, I'd be on the physician to compel that doctor to release the report - to you.

As far as I understand, patients, in every state, have a "right" to their own records and what is included within .

You may have to pay, and that's up to you to decide if you wish to. But: If payment is a condition of receiving the info. you seek, then, it is reasonable and a standard within the profession.

I was under the impression that long ago a law was passed that gave an individual the right to see their own records made by anyone..FBI, medical, everything. Prior to that act it was quite legal to keep "secret" records on someone and distribute them to other parties. This was done to college students by their professors then sent out to potential employers.

Well, well, it is still being done but you have to waive your rights to the critique on yourself. I discovered this in WA state in an application. You sign the waiver then hand out the form to someone who will write detailed information about your abilities or nonabilities then send it in never to be seen by your eyes. You have no opportunity to prove it wrong if mistakes or lies are written on the form.

In due time I will send this form to the ACLU.
jb

Hey Jyes,

I did a quick search and found nothing in the legislation for the state of NJ preventing you from getting your medical records. I would think that it is a reasonable expectation to be able to recieve copies of your reports and records, so that you would be able to make an informed decision regarding your course of treatment.

I've been in quite a few disagreements with medical office staff over my medical records before. I not only make my request verbally, but I also fax over a generic request form, so that there is a written record of my request. The way I look at it is, they're going to release the to my WC carrier, why the he** can't they release it to me?! I've had to pay nominal fee's per page, but it's worth it to me so that I can figure out which direction my care should take and what questions I need to have when I meet with the physican.

Go get em! Give em he**, and don't take "no" for an answer.

Theresa

Thanks all for the replies, still makes me wonder why there seems to be the general consensus amongst all the Doctor offices AND the Medical Imaging Facilities that only the referring Doctor is allowed to give the report to the patient.

I am sure that has not come out of the clear blue sky. I know the first I time I heard of it was when I asked my family MD for a copy of an EMG/NCV test, that I knew he had a copy of in my records and I was told then about the performing or referring Doctor was only authorized in that case and he retired! I finally tracked down that report at a new office with a Doctor who took over his business.

I rarely have been charged, I believe my Cervical MRI and Myelogram from 2002 I was charged a $10 search fee and $1 per page, which I accepted with no qualms since they were almost 4 year old reports.

I will post on Monday what transpires between myself and the office administrator when I ask for a copy of the MRI report...

Jyes

Jyes, i read quickly through your post,and right off the top pf my head, I can tell you those nurses, etc are full of it - I never had any problem getting my MRI, labs, or any other reports from my GP, even if they were ordered by other docs. And I've never paid acent for them, ANYWHERE! When I was going thru the 'motions' for my lawsuit, I got copies of everything - and so did my attorney. By the time my lawsuit was settled, my attorney had a full carrogated file box and a half of records!

I hope you are more successful in the future!

Jacquie

Jyes, I too have always asked for copies of all my reports and usually don't have a problem, once in awhile I'll have to sign papers for it and stating why I want them, but that's just about it.

Only once did I have to get a copy of my whole record cause I was moving, and then only then did I have to pay for it.

But I too was under the understanding that one has the right to their own medical records.

DaisyMae

My local imaging facility automaticly gives its patients copies of ALL work done there. You get a copy of the film on the spot and a copy of the report in the mail. Often, it does not arrive until after your appt. with the referring doc so I opt to go back the next day for the radiology report so I have an idea of what I am dealing with and can formulate my questions before seeing the doc. Best wishes.