I just found out that the pediatrician that we have known and loved since my children were born has gone out of business. Unfortunately, one of her office staff has been writing and cashing checks for the tune of over $10,000.00 so far. This has put a hurting on the practice and she temporarily closed the office. This was a couple months ago.I drove by the office yesterday to see boxes and books piled up in the hallway outside of the office door as if she has been evicted. The office line is constantly busy and her cell phone is disconnected. I am OK with getting a new pediatrian but everything that has been documented medically for my children is in that office or somewhere and I want to get them back. I called the insurance to see if there was anything they could do but they said no there is not. I do not know where to begin in my quest to retrieve these records. I welcome any suggestions you may have.
Well, if it was practice associated with a hospital, call the hospial and let them know you want the records.
If it is private. Put it in writing, hand deliver or mail or both. If someone is in the office they will give you the records. They are not public.
They should have sent out letters stating that the office will be closing. Those records have to be kept for at least `10 years. If you can't get anywhere, call that Clark Howard guy on the news. Maybe he can help.
Good Luck
Johna
I would be very concerned about identity theft. If what you saw sitting outside the office were medical records, they contain names, addresses, phone numbers, ss#, insurance info, etc. I would start with the Insurance Commissioner's office at the state, to see if there are privacy regulations being violated. Good luck.
You should contact the Georgia Medical Board about this situation. They should be able to help or guide you in the right direction. The doctor has to make records available by law. Good luck!
It so sad to hear about your pediatrician. I would suggest mailing her a letter requesting a copy of the documents or at least instructions as to how to get them. I know with some practices, the records are not kept in the office but with an outsourced company. So perhaps your doctor can at least provide the name of the company if they used this option. Another suggestion that may or may not help, did you keep those well check visit notes? You know, the ones that listed the childs weight and height and also included what if any vaccines they recieved. This may help you start when you start out with a new doctor.
K., you may have to contact the AMA (American Medical Asssociation) and see if she still has her license. If she does, they will know how to get in touch. The patients are supposed to have the opportunity to retrieve their children's records. This is a site I looked up. Check the question
Q. I need to find my immunization records and am unable to locate my physician. What should I do?
Hi K.:
You need to get those records. This is what I would do.
1. Look the doctor up in phone book and see if she has a home number.
2. Check with a pediatrician nearest to your old one and see if they have the records. I believe when something like this happens they have to turn the records over to someone.
3. Go by the place where she was located and in go to one of the other offices and ask how to get in touch with the landlord. The landlord will get a message to her.
Those medical records belong to you. Sometimes we have to be aggressive to get what we are entitled.
Send a certified letter, a copy of the same letter in the regular mail, and even a hand-carried letter that you go back to the office with TODAY (promptness is key since the office is closing) requesting your children's ENTIRE record, (this would include any x-rays that may have been taken also).
Which local hospital was she associated with? Contact their freedom of information office/records section and ask them for help too.
Did your doctor have a website or email? Contact her that way also.
I have blank forms from my doctor that I am willing to scan and email to you if you need examples.
If you receive no response in a week, contact the local medical boards.
This will all take time, but is well worth it to have your childs entire medical record to have to give to your next pediatrician.
Good luck.
it is the law that you have access to your medical records. the doctor has to keep those records for several years. i would go into the office and see what is going on, if you can't get anywhere, you can call the medical board for georgia and see if they can help you.
honestly, if your kids are not sick and have had all of their immunizations, it may be ok if you can't get to their records. i have a great pediatrician if you live in the smryna area.
good luck!
K.,
Sorry you are dealing with this. If your children are pretty healthy--no surgeries, major illnesses, etc, the records may not be all that essential. If they saw specialists, they have a copy of their reports. The records are nice to have, and I would try to get them, but I wouldn't lose a tremendous amount of sleep over it. The shots should be documented in GRITS (Georgia Registry of Immunizations, something or other). Their growth charts would be nice, but not crucial if you haven't had problems. I know this probably doesn't help to make you feel any better, but having worked in a peds office before, I know we only really looked at major illnesses. Take care and good luck finding another good doc.
My first thought is to go ahead and find your new pediatrician. Your old pediatrician's office is going through a transition right now but, once they are able to see straight again, they'll be able to transfer your children's records over. This is temporary.
Shame on that office staff worker!
Medical records are legally the patient's records. If you can't get any response from the pediatrician's office, contact the local branch of the American Medical Association (AMA) in your area. They should be able to provide some assistance.
Well, if she's no longer at the office I would send a certified letter as well as a regular mailed letter (in case she's not signing for letters right now) and ask if you could please have your children's medical records. I would also ask her if she is going to practice somewhere else and let her know that you are very sad that she isn't able to take care of your family at the present time but if you are willing to follow her and want to let her know in your letter. Medical records copies if she is charging I think are like $2.00 for the first so many pages and then like .10 cents a page and I like Ga law only allows up to a certain amt they can charge for records like up to $25.00 I can say this if you call a local hospital or another doctor's office they pretty much follow it to the T on the amt I had an attorney send me a copy of the law once but can't locate it at the moment I had a doctor's office tell me it was $100 for shot records and I found out different. You may even call an attorney's office to see what is the norm for records being copied or the GA law.
Hey K. you may try at the local hospital, some doctors offices is connected to the hospital system.
Maybe this will help give you some leadway.
