Why Is It Important for Patients to Access Their Medical Records?

When you have a medical condition and seek diagnosis and treatment from a health care provider, you enter into a professional relationship. Not only does your medical provider ask you about your current condition, but she also collects information about your medical history. Expect that your provider will maintain your medical records according to federal law and health care industry standards.

Patient Information

• Medical patients have a right to have their records kept confidential by medical providers, but they can also request a copy of records from a medical provider. This right is important for several reasons and that's why it is part of a federal law -- the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). This act applies to covered providers, including health plans, health care providers that conduct business electronically and health care clearinghouses.

Access

• Think about what full access means when it comes to your right to inspect, review and receive a copy of your medical records. There are only a few exceptions to the information you should receive. Generally, you receive access to medical records and billing records, but you won't be able to access a medical provider's psychotherapy notes. The latter notes are kept separate from medical and billing records.

Understanding Your Condition

• It's also important for patients to access their medical records so that they can read and understand their medical condition. For example, a patient with cancer should be able to read the doctor's diagnosis and the results of different tests and treatments. This enables a patient to accept the condition and make choices according to the situation. Also, a patient who has read the medical records can better explain a condition to family and friends.

What You Can Do

• Private medical records are a patient's key to asserting other rights. First, HIPAA gives a patient the right to request corrections of medical records. Second, you might need to give full medical records to another provider because you want a second opinion or because you are changing providers. Third, you might need to show records to a private attorney if you believe you have been a victim of medical malpractice.