Medical records have always been an important part of health care. Medical records provide physicians and other medical staff information on the history of a patient and about prior care, diagnosis, and treatment plans. Understanding the medical history of patient can help guide care. Medical records also contain documentation on lab findings, doctor notes, diagnostic images, and medication lists. Medical records help facilitate good continuity of care for patients.
Due to recent improvements in the health care industry through technological advances, medical records are more easily accessible to health care providers and patients. Through innovative computer software and hardware, medical records can be kept digitally rather than in physical chart form. The electronic medical records allow storage of these documents without the concern of losing the physical charts. With this innovation, medical records can be stored through databases that efficiently search for patient information and reduce human error.
As a patient, you can request access to your medical records. HIPAA regulations allow you access to your medical records. Copies of your medical records can be shared with you, but the original records are properties of the doctor who wrote them. You may just want copies of your medical history for your own records. But it is also important that if you change doctors, your new doctor should have access to your complete medical record. Knowing your medical history can also benefit your family. The information in your medical records can contribute to providing a thorough and clear family medical history. If you are ever involved in any type of medical-related lawsuit you will need your records as part of the evidence for your case. If you see a medical specialist for a condition, you will likely want to share your medical record with them as well.
An option you have in locating your medical records is asking your doctor’s office for copies. However, this can be a painstaking and time-consuming task. Order Medical Records specializes in helping people like you obtain copies of their medical records. It takes as little as 5 minutes to complete the ordering process online and you never have to leave your own home. Let us do the hard work for you! Visit us online today to start the process of ordering your medical records. You will happy you did!