Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Getting your records....
        
(Message started by: Leggs on Jun 29^th, 2005, 12:50pm)

Title: Getting your records....
Post by Leggs on Jun 29^th, 2005, 12:50pm

Okay, I was diagnosed with clusters in 1986, and you know, I have no record of that fact. Does that make a difference when you go to a new person???

Also, what's up with them looking at you like you have pulled a GUN on them when you tell the desk you want a copy of your file. I only saw the guy ONE time, not like it will take a ream of paper, but I want to SEE what he said.

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jun 29^th, 2005, 1:04pm

You have a legal right to see your records.

You have a legal right to have records sent to a new medical provider.

The folks in your doc's office know this; they have the form to be completed.

Firmly ask.

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by don on Jun 29^th, 2005, 1:22pm

Or pull a gun on them.

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by marlinsfan on Jun 29^th, 2005, 3:48pm

on 06/29/05 at 12:50:55, Leggs wrote:

Okay, I was diagnosed with clusters in 1986, and you know, I have no record of that fact. Does that make a difference when you go to a new person???

A good neuro will make his own diagnosis.

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by Jonny on Jun 29^th, 2005, 3:55pm

on 06/29/05 at 15:48:11, marlinsfan wrote:

A good neuro will make his own diagnosis.

What if he/she is a quack and wants to change the treatment that has been working for you for years?

Get the records, Leggs!

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by marlinsfan on Jun 29^th, 2005, 3:58pm

on 06/29/05 at 15:55:55, Jonny wrote:

What if he/she is a quack and wants to change the treatment that has been working for you for years?

If he's a quack, he ain't a good neuro ;)

Yes, get the records! But don't show them unless the neuro is a quack!

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by hdbngr on Jun 29^th, 2005, 5:23pm

It's that whole deer in the headlights thing....

If you have a copy of your records, you might actually SEE what is in them. You might idenitify mistakes, miswordings or even an outright fib, and they know they have to deal with you and explain why that information is there in the first place.

Want to see them squirm? As for a copy. They are thinking, which way do I run? There should be NO surprises, but I can speak from experience that there sometimes is. Not to mention most of us have files several inches thick and the office quakes at copying all of that paper.

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by BlueMeanie on Jun 29^th, 2005, 6:03pm

My neuro and my new doc both wanted copies of my records. I went to my old doctors office to get copies.

They wanted $20.00 admin fee plus .55 cents a page. My record of 20 + years has to have 100 pages.

It would have cost $20.00 admin fee + 100 pages x.55 cents + 2 copies of each for a total of $130.00 just to get copies sent to each doctor. :( I couldn't believe it, and decided they didn't need them that bad.

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by Leggs on Jun 29^th, 2005, 6:22pm

I have only seen the neuro HERE once, and he IS a quack. It was very unsettling to find out, against all odds, the two women in my PTA group who were widows in their 30's, had lost husbands from OVER MEDICATION following surgery at this practice. When I called a lawyer about my accident, the practice was notorious in his eyes for malpractice.

Funny, my internist had no problem with giving me my records, and that pile is a bit more extensive. The neuro saw me ONCE, and acts like I pulled a gun on them. Hey, I was smiling when I asked "And how do I get a copy for myself? ;;D, and then I repeated it just as sweetly, when they said WHAT? [smiley=huh.gif].

I just got the papers from the pain specialist in Atlanta, appointment is on for the 13th, Cross the fingers. I REALLY like what I read. VERY thorough questionarre.

With all the crap I have going on, in the section about "what type of pain" I can fill them ALL in. Also like how they have a body and a head, facing different ways, you circle your pain, and say what KIND of pain it is.

Also, it'scomforting to know, they say they ENCOURAGE 2nd or 3rd opinions from outside specialists before they prescribe a treatment regimine, so they are not going to weird out when I tell them I am going to Emory for follow-up.

Talked to my lawyer about the neuro here, and he said to do my best to get the records, it's typical of that practice, and he wants to also request them, and he will "compare" since sometimes they leave things out...

FINALLY FEEL LIKE I AM GETTING SOMEWHERE with treatment! This, about dinner time, happens to be my best time of day, then right before bed, the shadows have started. I am definitely going to try some melatonin, and look into the kudzu as well, so I can discuss this with the pain guy. He also has a wide range of treatment it appears

Thanks for being there everyone, and who was it told me to pull a gun on them??? hee hee, I am tempted.

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by Leggs on Jun 29^th, 2005, 6:25pm

on 06/29/05 at 17:23:46, hdbngr wrote:

It's that whole deer in the headlights thing....

If you have a copy of your records, you might actually SEE what is in them. You might idenitify mistakes, miswordings or even an outright fib, and they know they have to deal with you and explain why that information is there in the first place.

Want to see them squirm? Ask for a copy. They are thinking, which way do I run? There should be NO surprises, but I can speak from experience that there sometimes is. Not to mention most of us have files several inches thick and the office quakes at copying all of that paper.

This is where I stand right now, I have asked them for a copy, for ME, and they had exactly that, deer in the headlights look...I am going to rag their tails until I get it. If they give me anymore grief, I am just going to ask, what is the big deal, I just came here once, and I was THERE, so no surprises, eh? [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 1^st, 2005, 9:06am

You have a right to receive copies of your medical records and have them forwarded to other practices when changing docs.

Your 1986 medical records exist somewhere - even if the practice is no longer in existance. Tracking them down can be difficult but it is possible. I went through it about a year ago when the neuro. practice I was using suddenly closed.

Receiving copies and having them forwarded to another practice has been made a little slower by HIPPA or HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations requireing confidentiality of patient information (among other things).

You need to fill out the proper release forms (which isn't much of a change) to have your records relesed to other docs. or organizations that you allow to receive your patient information. Basically you have to be the "Monkey in the Middle" between where your records are and where you want them to go.

Tom

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by Leggs on Jul 1^st, 2005, 12:00pm

Very interesting about the records Tom, the "practice" is still there, it is Emory University?! THAT is who I am dealing with right now, neurosurgery, they want all my records since the accident to access and refer. I guess I could also tell them to hunt those old ones down, eh?

Title: Re: Getting your records....
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 1^st, 2005, 11:29pm

The biggest problem I had was tracking down who had the records. I doesn't sound like your going have that problem. Best wishes on getting things back in order.

Tom