What Happens to Previous Medical Records When You Find a New Doctor?

Moving, insurance issues or personal reasons can result in your looking for a new doctor. When you start seeing a new doctor, the doctor makes new medical records based on current tests and health conditions. The previous records stay with the old doctor or hospital as part of their records, although you can obtain a copy upon request.

Personal copy

• While the original copy of the medical records stays with the previous doctor, office or hospital, as the patient you are able to obtain a copy for all of the records on file. You are also able to obtain copies of your children's medical records. Make a formal written request asking for a copy of the medical records for your personal records. This ensures you have a copy to show your new doctor or for your personal file. Most states require doctors to give medical records if you request them. In the case of children, most states consider a parent the legal representative until the child is either emancipated from parents or turns 18 and is legally an adult.

Copy Sent to New Doctor

• To avoid repeating tests when changing to a new doctor, having a copy sent to your new doctor is an option. You must make a formal request to have the documents sent and provide an address for the new doctor's office. You also need to sign a disclosure form allowing the previous doctor's office to send the records.

Time Period Doctors Keep Records

• A doctor must keep your medical records for a specific amount of time after the last time you've seen him. The exact amount of time varies by state, but is usually a few years. For example, in the state of Florida your personal doctor must keep records up to five years as a minimum, and a hospital must keep the records up to seven years. While many hospitals or doctors keep records longer, they have a minimum time requirement to keep the records before they are destroyed. You have the right to obtain copies even after a few years as long as the hospital or doctor has the records.

Costs

• When you are obtaining your medical records or having a copy sent to your new doctor from your old doctor, you might encounter fees and costs. For example, you might have to pay the copying charges for each sheet of paper. The price will vary, but expect around 10 to 15 cents per page. If you are not picking up the copies and they are sent to the new doctor directly, you might also have shipping charges added to your costs, which will vary depending on the weight of the documents and the format. Some doctors will send hard copies in paper form while others will send a CD instead.