Thread: Obtaining Medical records

Some good info here.
Transfer of medical records - a guide | Australian Medical Association

I went through this about two years ago. My case was slightly different because my GP (who I have seen off and on for ~40 years) was moving to another practice and I wanted to move with him but his practice owner was not allowing him to take any records with him even with the patient's consent. I could have personally requested an electronic copy of my records from the practice manager but the mongrels were charging $120 to transfer only a summary of the records (they are legal entitled to do this) which I was not prepare to do.

My GP was going to do download them for me for nothing but the practice had put an electronic monitor on the records which would show if the full records were downloaded. However, they did not block printing of a full record so my GP printed mine out and gave it to me. The next time I saw the GP at the new practice I gave him the record and I assume he scanned it into the system. He was easily able to pull up all my path test records direct from the original path labs which were the main things he needed to be able to access.

I have all my blood test results and reports from specialists from the last 20 years (I know I should cull them) following heart surgery.
When referred for blood tests. I ask my GP to request copies to me or you can ask the blood taker for a copy but you will need to sign a request.
My GP is happy to give me copies of my specialist reports.

I take the view that those results are as much mine as the GP's as I pay for them directly or indirectly through Medicare, etc.

Originally Posted by Chesand

I have all my blood test results and reports from specialists from the last 20 years (I know I should cull them) following heart surgery.
When referred for blood tests. I ask my GP to request copies to me or you can ask the blood taker for a copy but you will need to sign a request.
My GP is happy to give me copies of my specialist reports.

I take the view that those results are as much mine as the GP's as I pay for them directly or indirectly through Medicare, etc.

Specialist reports and path/blood tests results are yours, but the doctors notes and records they make about about you, ie their diagnosis notes etc are not technically yours but belong to the doctor (or if the doctor works for a practice they belong to the practice) but you can request a copy and they are entitled to charge you (a reasonable amount) for the copy. And is there is no clear definition of "reasonable". If your record is lengthy you may only be provided with a summary of the Drs notes.

Originally Posted by BobL

Specialist reports and path/blood tests results are yours, but the doctors notes and records they make about about you, ie their diagnosis notes etc are not technically yours but belong to the doctor (or if the doctor works for a practice they belong to the practice) but you can request a copy and they are entitled to charge you (a reasonable amount) for the copy. And is there is no clear definition of "reasonable". If your record is lengthy you may only be provided with a summary of the Drs notes.

And the less scrupulous ones will only give you a VERY bare bones report. When I moved my elderly mother from the long term charlatan who had been "treating" her, there was a single poorly typed page with about 3 paragraphs on it - from what should have been very extensive notes on a patient in poor health who was seeing the doctor for multiple conditions over two decades. As Bob says, the notes belong to the practitioner, not you (sadly).

Originally Posted by RossM

And the less scrupulous ones will only give you a VERY bare bones report. When I moved my elderly mother from the long term charlatan who had been "treating" her, there was a single poorly typed page with about 3 paragraphs on it - from what should have been very extensive notes on a patient in poor health who was seeing the doctor for multiple conditions over two decades. As Bob says, the notes belong to the practitioner, not you (sadly).

Yes they can be mongrels

Mine were about 3 A4 pages of text not counting the (20+) specialist reports and path tests which I had most of already. I also had about 2 pages from another practice and they gave me them at no cost.