Understanding medical records

• ✺Having accurate records helps new doctors understand your health history quickly and avoid repeat tests or medication conflicts.
• ✺Reviewing your own records can help you catch errors in your diagnosis, medication list, or billing codes.
• ✺In an emergency, having a quick summary of your health history (medications, allergies, conditions) can be critical for responders or ER staff.

1. 1Decide which provider's records you need (a current or former doctor, hospital, or clinic).
2. 2Check if they offer a patient portal for instant digital access.
3. 3If not available online, contact the provider's medical records department and submit a written request.
4. 4Review the records for accuracy once received.
5. 5Keep a personal summary of key information (medications, allergies, conditions, past surgeries) for easy reference.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law that protects the privacy of medical records and gives patients rights to access them.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

A digital version of a patient's medical chart, maintained by a provider or health system.

Patient portal

A secure online platform where patients can view records, message providers, and sometimes request documents.

Medical records department

The office within a provider or hospital responsible for processing requests for patient records.

• ✗Assuming all your providers automatically share your records with each other — they often don't.
• ✗Not reviewing your own records for errors in diagnoses, medications, or history.
• ✗Waiting until an emergency to figure out how to access your medical history.
• ✗Forgetting that there may be a reasonable fee for paper copies of larger records.

• !Under HIPAA, you generally have the right to access your own medical records, usually within 30 days of a request.
• !Providers may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for providing paper copies of records.
• !Patient portals have made much of this process faster, often giving instant access to test results and summaries.
• !Keeping your own personal health summary can be valuable, especially in emergencies or when seeing a new provider.

• You have a legal right under HIPAA to access and get copies of your own medical records.
• Patient portals often provide fast, digital access to records.
• Providers typically don't automatically share records with each other.
• Keeping your own summary of key health info helps in emergencies and new-provider visits.

Totally optional. Nobody's grading you.

1. 1.Check if your providers offer a patient portal and set up an account.
2. 2.Create a simple written summary of your medications, allergies, and major health history.

Related lessons:

• How to organize medical documents
• How to find a doctor
• What to do in a medical emergency

• Your medical records
  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)(opens in a new tab)
• HIPAA basics for patients
  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)(opens in a new tab)