I've been through the unnecessary appointments with a urologist and with a cardiologist. Both were during the height of COVID. I don't know why appeared to be someone who was safe to repeatedly bring into the office. I would get out-of-the-blue reminders for urology appointments I never scheduled. This happened repeatedly. When I phoned to find out what the reason was for the most recent one (since there was no need or prior discussion of a follow-up appointment), she said "I need to see you." When I asked specifically what for, she got more insistent and said "I just need to see you." I cancelled that appointment and went to a different urologist. I was seeing the cardiologist as a follow-up to a supposed small stroke in Jan of 2020. He thought I needed to have an an outpatient test done in a hospital setting, and when COVID hit we decided to defer the procedure. He had me coming back every 90 days to have my blood pressure taken, get an EKG, and tell each other that COVID was still here and we'd defer the test...we did that every 3 months. I finally said "My blood pressure has always been low, my supposed stroke was not a cardio event so I don't need a routine EKG, and I can go on the web to know that COVID is still here. If these procedures are necessary for me to have every 90 days, let's talk about why." He replied in a snarky tone: "Well, we wouldn't want to inconvenience you. How about coming in every 6 months?" Gee, so much for a standard of care. Heck, at one point he told me he didn't even think I had a stroke in the first place. So I just stopped going.
I read something about this not long ago, but couldn't figure it out. If anyone here knows: where would a person stand if they hadn't seen the healthcare provider in more than 20 years- would there still be a way to access the records?
From MyChart, the site used by The University of Virginia Health Systems: Termination or Deactivation of UVA MyChart Access UVA Health System reserves the right to terminate access to UVA MyChart at any time and for any reason. The following is a list of reasons for termination of UVA MyChart access. However, this list is not all-inclusive, and each circumstance will be evaluated individually: Sharing of your login and password with another party. Inappropriate use of electronic messaging (excessive use, inappropriate or abusive content) You are no longer a patient of the practice/physician Pending legal issues with the physician or UVA Health System Inappropriate use of UVA MyChart customer service Other activities that cause a disruption to operations Patient is incarcerated or in custody of law enforcement ************************************************************************* I would imagine that--by law--you have the right to access your records, but it's not gonna be through the online portal. That being said, I don't know how they would know you are no longer a patient of a given physician, or what process (if any) they have to periodically scrub the user database.
From InteliChart, the site used by my urologist: 2. Eligibility; Access to Personal Health Information. Three requirements (collectively, the “Eligibility Requirements”) must be met for you to be eligible to establish a Solution account and use any Solution. First, you must reside in the United States. Second, you must be a patient of a Participating Provider. Third, you must be (x) at least 18 years of age, (y) legally emancipated or (z) reached the age under applicable law within your jurisdiction (e.g., between the ages of 12-17) that grants you the right to consent to certain medical treatment (e.g., reproductive care) without parental consent (an “Adolescent”). By agreeing to these Terms, you represent and warrant that you satisfy all of the Eligibility Requirements.
I would say contact the physician's office and ask. Many medical records were just beginning to be computerized 20 years ago, so records were old paper files. I suppose retention times depend on different state laws...? This is in Texas... 1) A licensed physician shall maintain adequate medical records of a patient for a minimum of seven years from the anniversary date of the date of last treatment by the physician.
In this state and most others (and probably at the Federal level as well) you own your medical records. They have to be available to you, but you may have to apply to receive them in person, sign for them after showing ID, and pay for any copying charges incurred.
Well, long before this topic (from thread) came up, I learned in this state providers CAN withhold information from records from the patients. Not only is this a bad idea, it can be dangerous if the provider made mistakes.
Former patients would not be guaranteed access to the online application. I don't know what the verification process is. So what state says that your records can be withheld from you? Were there conditions under which this may be done (like non-payment of bills)?
I've tried to get medical records from when I was young so I would have a copy of them, because I wanted them. I've never had any luck of obtaining any records. I also have a MyChart. It seems the only thing that gets added to MyChart is my bloodwork. I avoid the doctor, if I can. And of course, a person rarely gets to see a doctor anyway. One might get to see the nurse, or get sent to one of the many walk in clinics that have popped up on every corner in recent years. I am beginning to question all the preventive tests too. Are they worth it? I'm feeling a little snarky about everything anymore.
Back in 1990 I had a contrast IV with iodine and had a mild reaction to it. Sometime later I was told that there are different types of iodine, and I was likely not allergic to all of them. I tried to get the records from that 1990 procedure (probably 25 years afterwards) and could not track them down. Regarding preventative stuff: I got the old and the new shingrix vaccines, and the 65+ pneumonia vaccine. Now My Chart/UVA Health displays a message telling me that I am overdue for my annual pneumonia vax!!! I've always known it to be a once-in-a-lifetime thing unless you have other conditions, in which case it's every 5 years. I'm not even gonna ask them what gives. These people are pushing for everyone 6 months and older to get a COVID "vaccine." I won't even get my tetanus booster in this environment. What I really need is a Trust booster, but it's someone else who needs a needle in the butt, not me.
I have been really happy that they started putting our medical information on the patient portal where I could read it. I almost always also ask for a print out when I am in the doctor’s office and going over lab reports, because I have a folder here at home where I store these, too. It mostly makes it easier to look back through results to see what is and is not improving. If a person is not interested in knowing that information, then they do not have to check it out on the portal, or even use the portal for anything. I get text messages or phone calls for appointments, so if I didn’t use the portal, I would still get notified. I can see that if the doctors are getting a lot of worried patients calling them, they would not want that. They told me that same thing about my pacemaker. I was hoping that I could see what information it sends in, but they said they don’t allow that because they get so many worried calls from patients who do not understand the results they are seeing.
I have seen mistakes in my own record. If I mention them, I'm told it will be fixed but never is. (Just minor things but still wrong.)
But how does that work if the state requires only 7 years of records? My doctors from years ago are long dead and I'm sure their paper files went to the landfill.
When our family doctor retired and closed his office, he gave us all our records on a small floppy disc. Most don't have a way to read those now, but I still do. I do think it varies by state, and I don't know what the Federal requirements are now, since HIPAA gave us some privacy but the ACA took most of that away again.