Obtaining medical records....

Question

My grandmother is having an issue getting her medical records from a doctor that she has went to for many years. When she ask about her medical she is told that the medical records were entered into a computer and now the office is unable to retrieve the records from the computer because the doctor that set up the system is no longer working at that office. The doctor left the office under unexplained circumstances. When she asks about the paper copies, the office employees never supply a clear answer. Does anyone have any suggestions about how she may be able to force the doctors office to provide these records. She is trying to find a good doctor but it's hard for the doctors to understand her condition completely without her extensive medical history.

Also, is it legal for a doctor's office to convert medical records to electronic form and not keep a paper copy?

Any help will be appreciated.

Answer 1

She has a right to her records....she may have to pay a printing fee....here are all the details...it's in pdf format...sorry. She needs to submit a written request...under the 'form of request' section. http://www.cmanet.org/upload/HowTforfm.p...

Answer 2

Yes, it's legal to go electronic (or microfiche).

If they refuse to give them to her, she will have to get an attorney to send a demand letter first, and if they still refuse he will have to go in front of a judge requesting a subpoena for the files pending a civil action.