Hugh - having been on this listserv for 3+ years, I have read many of your
posts and respect your knowledge in records management.  But as an RHIA who
has worked managing healthcare records in various hospitals and at various
vendors for 30+ years, I'd like to comment on your statements below.

MRI and CAT scans and other radiology studies are usually copied for release
- the written report describing the results of the exam is not sufficient
for continuing patient care.  It is not uncommon for these copies to be
given to patients to transport to their next healthcare appointment,
especially if you are going out of town or out of state.  Note that
originals are seldom given out because obviously some people never return
them even when asked to.  And just because they didn't give you an 'out
card', that doesn't mean that the department doesn't maintain a record of
your request.  Just because you didn't see it, doesn't mean it didn't
happen.

I agree they should have asked you for ID, and in my experience this would
have happened HIPAA or no HIPAA.

Granted, some departments are more lax and less well-managed than others but
you could say that about any place and any business.  I think your statement
that "Healthcare places don't manage records" is a colossal generalization
based on what appear to be two encounters.  And an insult to those of us in
the business.  And it's really gotten my dander up (in case you couldn't
tell).

Will get off my soapbox now.

Oh, and please return the films as requested.

Liz Allan, RHIA
Director of Client Programs
SOURCECORP Deliverex
San Jose, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Hugh Smith
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 11:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Who do these records belong to anyway??

In our discussion of medical records and legal records........

The records belong to whoever has them in their possession. (See
9/10ths Rule)

I will give you reality, not theory.  When I left Buffalo, I had MRI's
and CAT Scans from a car accident injury. I requested them and they
were given to me to take to Pennsylvania so my Doctors down there would
have them for reference.

Skip ahead to last week, I had year old MRI's and CAT Scans and X Rays
from my fall from the scaffold in Fort Worth and recent films from a
car accident just this year.  I had my Doctor call and request they
have them all ready for him to review. I had the duty of picking them
all up from three file rooms. Now they are in my possession and they
are never going back to the hospital or the Imaging place.  I own them
now.

With regard to medical records. forget retention schedules or state
statutes or who supposedly owns them..........the problem is that
Healthcare places don't manage records. They gave me a form that said
to be sure to return them, but no out card. No record that I had them.
In fact, you had to walk into the middle of the file room to even get
waited on!  How lax can you be??  So we can debate the hypothetical but
no retention schedules or rules apply if they are poorly managed.

I was not even asked for ID. I walked in and asked for Hugh Smith's
films and they gave them to me. So much for HIPAA.


Hugh Smith
FIRELOCK Fireproof Modular Vaults
[log in to unmask]
(610)  756-4440    Fax (610)  756-4134
WWW.FIRELOCK.COM

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance