Question about obtaining medical records

Talk to the receptionist at the doctor's office (phone in if you don't want to go in person). It's none of their business why you want your records and as far as I'm aware, you don't have to specify why you want them. If you do (I had to fill out a form to get mine) just put down "for personal use".
I don't know where you are but in Canada, the office can charge you a fee to get your records - it's usually the cost of photocopies (ie: 25¢ per page). They aren't however allowed to charge you a ridiculous amount.
When I got mine I went to medical records at the hospital (we have a clinic in the hospital that I go to) and I filled out a form to get my records. I had to specify what I wanted (you could say your whole file or test x, y and z) and I had to say what I wanted them for. I had to sign the form etc. I had a bit more of a hassle because the lady in medical records was a nosey old biddy but you shouldn't have a problem (my mum just got her whole file copied a few months ago and didn't have a problem). I didn't get charged for the copies but my mum paid 25¢ per page.

HTH :)

Keep in mind that in the USA your medical records belong to the "generating" facility or doctor, i.e. if your scopes are done at a hospital outpatient endo department you would get the reports and films (?) from that hospital. The same holds true for any test, procedure, blood draw, etc. The records belong to the generating facility.

In the case of "independent labs" the records belong to the scripting doctor (one of the two reasons I REFUSE to use Quest Labs and always have my blood draws done at our local hospital's outpatient lab - the other being Quest REFUSES to release the results to my family doctor unless he is the one ordering the draw - or to me).

AND HIPAA allows the medical facility or doctor to charge a "reasonable fee". In one case, one of the local hospitals once charged me a $10 access fee plus a $1 a page copying fee for a ONE page result. Obviously I REFUSE to go to that hospital for ANYTHING.

The local hospital I use does charge me for "older" records. I don't remember the period of time but once the records reach a certain age (maybe 4-5 years) they are kept at some "outside" record keeping facililty rather than the hospital's computer system and when these "older" records are requested they take longer to get and I do get charged for them but the fee is very reasonable.

What are you referring to when you say "films" from your colonoscopies and endoscopies? If you are referring to the "still pictures" taken at specific sites of "interest" during a scope my gastro offers me a copy before I am released after my scope. If videos are made of your entire scope you have a VERY PROGRESSIVE endoscopy unit and I envy you!!! Very few facilities (at least in our area) have the extra equipment to do so. *sigh*

Abl

You've already received some great advice. Any type of films (MRI, CT, etc.) would be at the facility that you had it done at. I've never seen films for a colonoscopy/endoscopy (just the reports), so I'd check with the place that you had it done at. As far as your records go, if you request them yourself there will probably be a fee according to how far back in time you need to go. The most we've ever charged was $70 and that was for a huge amount of copies.

 

If these things were done at a hospital, you don't have to go through your doctor at all. You obtain paper records directly from the medical records department, and usually CD's with digital copies of your scans from the radiology department, at the hospital where the procedures were done. If it is sent directly to the doctor you are seeing, you generally don't have to pay, but you probably will have to pay if you say it is for you to keep.

Your doctor should not be offended if you want to get a consultation in a bigger city. I think it is a bad idea not to tell him/her. They don't like it when patients are sneaky...they know when you obtain records. You could end up not liking the new doctor, or deciding it's too inconvenient, so you don't want to alientate your current GI. And a doctor-to-doctor call can usually help to get appointments faster.

Thank you all so much! Everyone had wonderful advice! I am going to call about it today. Thanks again!!!

I am waiting for a doctor to mail me a copy of my records. I just had to ask and work with their time schedule. I had 3 others I needed and just had to sign a release. They really did not care why I needed them, just if it came to me or another office.