Buzz
Your medical records—whether they’re all with your family doctor or spread out across various clinics—are yours to access. Having a copy can help you save money, receive better care, or just satisfy your curiosity.
As most healthcare providers have moved away from paper records, requesting a copy has become simpler: by US law, if your records are kept electronically, they must be provided to you in the same format.
Many providers have a website or app that lets you access your records as soon as they’re available. If not, or if you encounter difficulties in obtaining the full information, a tool called Vocatus can assist you in submitting a written request.
Some providers might not be familiar with the law and may mistakenly tell you that you need to pay your bill in full before you can access your records or that there’s unnecessary bureaucracy involved. If you face such issues, check the troubleshooting page at Get My Health Data for guidance on asserting your rights.
Photo by Ted Eytan.
