How to Find Incomplete Medical Records

A patient may need to claim a copy of his or her medical records in order to transfer medical facilities, visit a medical specialist or even apply for health or life insurance. Luckily, most facilities have set up entire medical records departments that allow patients to submit orders for both complete and incomplete medical records and have them sent to a designated address or facility. While turnaround time may be long, the process is, for the most part, streamlined.

Instructions

• 1

  Locate the phone number and fax number of the medical facility where the records are located.

• 2

  Call the medical facility to have them mail or fax you a copy of their HIPAA-compliant medical records release authorization.

• 3

  Complete the release once received and fax or mail it back to the medical records department. Be sure to include where you would like the records to be sent.

• 4

  Submit payment to the facility if they require a fee. This can usually be done over the phone with a credit card or with a check through the mail.

• 5

  Wait for records to arrive within one to four weeks, depending on distance and the department's level of efficiency.