On the record
Q: Your recent column on the Veri-chip device being implanted in Alzheimer’s patients and the lack of medical privacy that they could face as a result made me wonder what is actually in my own medical records. How do I obtain a copy of my information?
JVW: Having a comprehensive record of your own medical history is a good idea and can be helpful, especially in an emergency or in the event of a hospitalization, or even if you just switch physicians.
Actually getting the information usually isn’t difficult: In most cases, all you have to do is fill out a request form provided by the receptionist at your doctor’s office and they should be able to send you a copy of your records within a few days. (You may be asked to pay for your copies.)
But in order to get all your records, you will need to go back to every medical facility and practitioner you have ever visited and make the same request. This may be tough for people who have moved around a lot or who have seen a variety of doctors over the years. But it is the only way to be sure that you end up with a comprehensive file of your entire medical history.
The good news is, if you take the time to do it once and are thorough about it, after that it will be much easier to keep up with it.
Once you obtain your records, don’t be shy about asking for clarification if you don’t understand everything that is in them. It is important that you be knowledgeable about your own health and a good way to begin is by having a clear understanding of what is contained within your own files.
