I need copies of my medical records to be sent to an insurance company, lawyer, or another physician – what do I do?
It depends. If the forms are being sent to a specialist as part of a referral, there is no charge. (Also, generally, this is organized by your doctor, so you don't need to make a request for this type of medical record transfer.) If it is being requested by a lawyer or an insurance company, generally we will bill any charges directly to them. If you are sending the records to another doctor and you haven't been referred by your doctor at the QFHT (e.g. if you are moving to a new practice), or if you are requesting the records for your own interest, there may be a charge and you will need to complete a consent form. Please see Third-Party/Uninsured Services or talk to your doctor. (As always, if you have concerns about the cost, please speak to your doctor.)
Can you email me my records?
Email makes us a little nervous because it’s not considered secure enough for sensitive patient data. As such, as a rule, we do not email patient medical records. That said, we understand there might be times when you have no other choice. If this is the case, please contact us and we will see what we can do to find a solution that will work for you and will keep your data secure.
Can you save my records on a USB stick for me?
Due to concerns about privacy and confidentiality, our computers are not able to take USB sticks. That said, sometimes we are able to work with CDs or USB sticks, but that must be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and might take a bit longer. Please contact us to discuss.
How long does it take?
Again, this can depend on how busy we are and whether your physician would like to view your records before they are sent. Our official policy is that these requests can take up to 30 days, but we are generally able to get them out much faster. We can't, however, always guarantee that we can get them out immediately, so please give us adequate notice or contact us if there is an urgent issue; we'll try our best!