Doctors in AZ who refuse to give you your own records

[SmurfOnABoat]

Originally Posted by motormaker

Still strange to me. I get a blood test and depending what they are checking for I and my PCP start getting results by the time I get home which is only 1/2 away. I don't have to sign anything.

Its physician preference. Some physicians have no problem releasing records via mail. Some will only do it via certified mail and require that particular person to sign for them, and some require in person release. Depends on how much they want to protect themselves from HIPAA violations.

[Nanny Goat]

Originally Posted by PhxBarb

Kimballette: I see it as a refusal because I have to go into their office, sign a release and don't understand why my verbal release is not good enough. If I were requesting records of someone else, then yes, I would agree there should be a release. But these are MY records. The phone call was to ME from the doctors office. What they want is for me to schedule an appointment to come into the office and see the doctor. This is unnecessary. All I want is to see the lab results and keep a copy in my own records. I don't think this is ranting.

I think what urks people is that some offices can be condescending and patronizing toward their "patients." Maybe if they had treated you in a more friendly or open way, just kinda explaining things to you without upsetting you it could have been better. Yes, they have "rules," but they can explain things in a way that's less antagonizing.

[wit-nit]

This website should be able to answer all if not most of your privacy questions:

Medical Records Privacy | Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

[observer53]

None of this is really about Arizona. This is about doctors' different methods of complying with federal law. Closed.