My neurologist's office is closing. He told me I could request my records and get all my records from him for free since there is currently no Dr to set me up with in my network. It was awesome news because it's been over 1.5 years since my bleed and I know just the basics, probably the more important basics but have always been curious about the finer details. So I sent in my request for my records. Now when I had my records sent from the hospital that performed my crani (in another city)to the Dr. here he told me there was A LOT of information. He made it sound like boxes upon boxes. So when I got the call to go get the records, they were ready, I sent my husband. He returns with a tiny envelope with like 6 or so papers in it. I asked him wtf is this? He tells me that they sent my records to my regular PCP. So he had gone there to get them but they are lost! They said they searched and searched and even called former employees but no one remembers seeing this box of records! Should I be worried? They are going to request a copy (again) from the hospital I had the crani at but I'm afraid I'll get charged because it's a SECOND time I'll request them. And, what is the risk of having so much personal info just floating about out there? I asked the nurse on the phone that told me the records were "misplaced" but she said she didn't know the answer.
Should I worry about anything like identity theft or fraudulent files for things like disability or anything like that? Or is that just my paranoia speaking? Or are those risks, but less likely to happen? I learned what was in a patients medical records when I was going to school for coding but all that is gone from my memory which is kind of ironic I guess. Is it worth the worry? I'm not looking to sue or anything obscene like that but if there is some high risk of my privacy being idk unprotected or whatever, I'd push harder for them to find my records. It makes me uncomfortable knowing my personal info is just "out there" somewhere. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.
Hi Kristi,
While none of us would like the thought of our medical records being the wrong hands, I suspect the real risk is pretty low. First, your records would have to end up "outside" the normal medical channels, then be found by some lower life person, then potentially used toward some end that might gain them financially. In my mind, that's a lot of coincidences that would have to align just right to be much of a risk.
I hear a lot of stories where someone mail is stolen, and with info in the bills (name, address, account numbers, etc), thieves can generate identity theft by using the data they stole to create new credit cards, etc. My BIL had his mail stolen a few years ago. It was an inside job where someone at the post office saw a box of his re-ordered checks go out. The thieves stole the checks, then went to get a driver's license in BIL's name/address and a thief's picture. With that, they went crazy buying large stuff. Took BIL a couple of years to get his good name back.
I suspect stealing mail is an easier approach than starting with medical records.
As far as not having your history, I'm not sure that's too critical. In it's place, I would write down as much as you can generate: When and where your treatment was, who the DR was, what they did, etc.
Best wishes,
Ron, KS