[hart]

#7315

SW:

Under HIPAA, patients have a right to amend their medical records. Here is a link to the US Department of Health and Human Services information pertaining to your rights in regard to your medical record. (I am assuming that the encounter took place in the US.)

Note: this forum does not allow urls so I have inserted 3 spaces in the address. When you cut and past this into your browser, you will have to delete these spaces before pressing return. (Let me know if you are unable to access this info!)

ht tp://ww w.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/medicalrecords.ht ml

“Correcting information
If you think the information in your medical or billing record is incorrect, you can request that the health care provider or health plan amend the record. The health care provider or health plan must respond to your request. If it created the information, it must amend the information if it is inaccurate or incomplete. If the provider or plan does not agree to your request, you have the right to submit a statement of disagreement that the provider or plan must add to your record.”

Cheers,
H

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#7316

I would appreciate not naming any specific physicians or clinics on this forum. General discussion and even specific complaints regarding problems with what was reported vs. what actually occurred are encouraged but the forum is for spinal education only.

I do agree that medical records should be accurate and corrected. If you have found that your physician has made an error, ask to have the records amended.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[SpinelessWench]

#7318

Hart,

I’ve already taken action to assure the records are amended to reflect my information accurately. Thanks.

[hart]

#7319

[strike][/strike]Dr. Corenman:

Would you go as far as to suggest all patients ask for all medical records? Anyone who has had to weed through a fat chart in the hospital knows that these records are filled with a lot of garbage (hopefully that word is permissible to the sensor). Clearly, it is a common practice for a clinician to simply copy the history and physical exam notes found in a previous entry by another clinician who may well have done the same thing. In all fairness, these physicians are in many cases having their “productivity” monitored and they need to get on to the next patient. I think we can pretty much assume that there are inaccuracies in our records. We have a right to this information; do we have a responsibility to monitor it?

I have never requested notes from a physician. I think this could be interpreted as hostile. I only happened to receive the note to which I refer in my post above because I had requested an “X-ray report” to go along with my $15 disc. The note did not contain an opinion on the films, BTW (unless mention of the old spinous process fracture that never occurred counts). Frankly, I wish I hadn’t seen the note! It pissed me off.

If everyone requested their records and asked that inaccurate information be amended (HIPAA says this should be done within one month of the request), would doctors have time for anything else.

Cheers,
H

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#7320

I think all patients should have and read their medical records. There should be no surprises. Now- hospital records are voluminous and probably not worth reading but there are three exceptions.

You should request the admission history and physical, the discharge summary and any consultations while in the hospital.

I personally mail all my dictations to the patient.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[hart]

#7321

Thank you, Dr. Corenman.

That makes great sense.

Cheers,
H

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