Who owns the X-rays?

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I wanted to see a different chiropractor. Of course, the new one wanted to take X-rays. I don't like overdoing X-rays. He said I could bring the X-rays from the other chiropractor.

I pay for the X-rays, right?

Can I just get my X-rays from doctors and keep them on file if I need them?

It's a curious thing. It's my body, my X-rays, but the doctor keeps them.

What's the protocol on these things? Don't I have a right to my medical stuff?

[Dana Grant]

You absolutely have a right to copies of your x-rays. They may charge you a copy fee, but you may request them and should have no problems getting them.

The facility where you had the x-rays taken will want to keep the originals in case they would have to defend what is written on the x-ray report for some reason. However, they cannot deny you a copy of the x-rays.

[Dave McClung]

If you do a search of Google on "Who owns medical records?" you will find that the answer isn't as clear as you would hope. Some states have specific laws. Other's appear to rely on Codes of Ethics.

If I understand it correctly, the most common rule is that the medical facility owns the paper or film upon which the information is recorded, but in most states the patient has a complete right to the information itself.

Dave

[Nelson Bradford]

Speaking from experience . . . within the past 2 months I called/requested copies of x-rays, went to the hospital, picked them up - took them to a doc's office - all for no charge.

Now (and I feel I MUST add this) . . .

a) Not sure if that would apply to chiropractors

b) the doc works for a med group that "caters" to that hospital - not necessarily insisting his patients go there (there are two hospitals in town) but that's where most of his patients go, therefore that may have had some bearing on the no charge.

-neb

[Dana Grant]

If you do a search of Google on "Who owns medical records?" you will find that the answer isn't as clear as you would hope. Some states have specific laws. Other's appear to rely on Codes of Ethics.

If I understand it correctly, the most common rule is that the medical facility owns the paper or film upon which the information is recorded, but in most states the patient has a complete right to the information itself.

Dave


Actually, I didn't say that she OWNS her medical records, I just stated that she has a right to a copy of them. The HIPAA law states that patients have the right to copies of their medical records -- it doesn't state it exactly like that--I'll have to look in our HIPAA manual when I get back to the office sometime. It also gives the right to the patient to review their chart in the hospital or the office and to make changes to incorrect information contained therein. For instance, if my doctor mistakenly dictates that I consume alcohol occasionally, and I request to review my records, I have the right to ask them to change that.

In one of my clients' offices, they do not charge the patient if the patient requests their records to be sent to another doctor. If the patient requests their records to be copied for their personal files, then they are charged a copying fee of some sort. I'm not sure how much it is. But it is free if the office sends them to another doctor.

As far as x-rays are concerned, I have never had to pay for copies of my x-rays, either, but I'm sure SOMEONE SOMEWHERE probably charges for them!!! HA HA

[Dana Grant]

Over the years, since more and more people are being more proactive with their healthcare, the contents of a patient's chart have changed dramatically.

When I first started out in the medical field, I was in charge of collections and had to have access to many patient charts. Believe me when I tell you that since the onset of patients' rights to obtain their records, the verbage of the doctor's clinic notes has changed dramatically!! Thirty years ago, I might read a chart note about a patient's ignorance, or how the doctor almost died when he smelled her breath, or a patient's loud-mouth husband, or some other sort of derrogatory remarks made by the doctor in their permanent record. However, today with so many patients obtaining copies of their records, doctors are very careful what they say! Instead of the patient's loud-mouthed husband, we might read "the patient's husband strongly suggested....." LOL Or, instead of stating that the patient's breath was so bad he almost had to leave the room, he will save it for the physical examination -- Head, ears, eyes, nose, and throat: Severe halitosis. I must say, though, that those old records were much more interesting to read!! HA HA

What still bothers me a lot about physicians' offices is that most of them have yet to figure out how to keep patients in the waiting room from hearing information on other patients. A year or so ago, I had to go to the lab to have some blood drawn. While waiting to check in behind another gentleman, he asked the clerk if she knew what these tests were for. She rather loudly said, well, it looks like they are checking for AIDS. I was so upset that she had blurted that out to the patient that I wrote a letter to the head office of the laboratory. They politely acknowledged my letter, but of course, I don't know if anything ever became of correcting the situation.

Interesting.

[Doug Kitchen]

I wanted to see a different chiropractor. Of course, the new one wanted to take X-rays. I don't like overdoing X-rays. He said I could bring the X-rays from the other chiropractor.

I pay for the X-rays, right?

Can I just get my X-rays from doctors and keep them on file if I need them?

It's a curious thing. It's my body, my X-rays, but the doctor keeps them.

What's the protocol on these things? Don't I have a right to my medical stuff?

When we moved from Pa to NY state, we asked one doctor to send all our records to another - They were just copies. I believe if you spend time in a hospital, your doctor will get copies of the records. I think in most cases, you need to ask because it can be a lot of work. There are copying fees and I think in the case of X-ray's the first office may keep the original.

Lori has a really fascinating medical history and our new doctor really enjoyed reading it. I believe her records followed her once again when we changed doctors eight years ago.

I know my ECG moved with me as well - my current doctor complained because they recorded it backwards (or upside down). It was pretty scary when he was comparing the current one with a 2 year ecg - After about five minutes, he said "oh, now I see what they did...your heart is ok"

I am pretty sure that they might not hand you the records (and especially not your lawyer) but they'll have no problem sending them to another professional.

Doug

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Still, if you pay for them the first time, you are paying double. Why doesn't the doctor make her own copies? I think this type of thing rings of double taxation. :)

[Betty Bolerjack]

What still bothers me a lot about physicians' offices is that most of them have yet to figure out how to keep patients in the waiting room from hearing information on other patients. A year or so ago, I had to go to the lab to have some blood drawn. While waiting to check in behind another gentleman, he asked the clerk if she knew what these tests were for. She rather loudly said, well, it looks like they are checking for AIDS. I was so upset that she had blurted that out to the patient that I wrote a letter to the head office of the laboratory. They politely acknowledged my letter, but of course, I don't know if anything ever became of correcting the situation.

Interesting.

Although they are trying, I'm not sure that the clinic we go to has really solved the problem, especially after reading this! It seems like almost every time I go there, I notice a difference in the routine. It used to be that, after checking in at the front desk and receiving our chart (most of the actual records are kept on computer so there isn't much in the chart), we would take it back to whatever doctor we were seeing and give it to the nurse. We would find a place to sit in the waiting room which had exam rooms right off of it until the nurse called us to check our weight. The scales were located out in the hall. Then we'd go back to sit in the doctor's waiting room again. The hall was the overflow area and the only time we sat there was when the waiting room was full. We paid when we left.

It's getting to be almost ridiculous these days. Now, we check in at the front desk, pay, and then wait for the nurse to call. We are escorted to the doctor's office and then weighed just inside the door of what used to be the waiting room. We are then directed to sit outside in the hall until an exam room is ready. The last couple of times I've taken Tamara to the doctor, we've been directed to wait across the hall in the lab waiting area (still a hallway). We're not kept waiting in the hall very long, but I have thought that it seemed sort of stupid to have us wait in the lab area if they are trying to protect the privacy of other patients! I can't help but wonder what they'll try next to comply with HIPAA. :fav03

[Dana Grant]

Oh, yes, the scales!!

At our doctor's office, the scales are located beside the desk where you check out. SOOO, if a patient is checking out and you happen to be called in to be weighed, well, they don't shout out the numbers, but the number flashes on a big sign above the scales, so there it is in digital numbers for everyone to see: 738 POUNDS.......LOL (OK, that's a little high, but you get the embarrassment.......LOL) I hate for people to see how much I weigh, even though it is way lower than it used to be!!! LOL

Oh well, at least your name doesn't flash up there with the number.....I guess it COULD be worse....

[Doug Kitchen]

Still, if you pay for them the first time, you are paying double. Why doesn't the doctor make her own copies? I think this type of thing rings of double taxation. :)

Wanda,
I think we have paid sometimes and not paid others. It depends on the doctor. It is a lot of effort to copy all the information. The first time you pay for the doctor's ability to interpret the results, the second time you pay for the photocopying machine.

Doug