If your doctor is retiring in the near future, you can and should place a medical records request immediately.
While the actual, physical copy of your medical records belongs to your doctor, the content of the record belongs to you and it is vital for your health and medical care. If your doctor is retiring, you need to be sure that you collect this valuable information about your medical history now so that it will be available to you and your next physician. Medical record retrieval can be a very difficult and lengthy task, but fortunately, with the help of My Retired Doctor this process can be handled in a timely manner. We can help you submit your medical records request with your retiring doctor, facilitate the medical record retrieval process, and transfer the records to your new doctor and any other party you desire.
What Happens When a Doctor Retires?
When a doctor retires, passes away, or closes their practice for any other reason and leaves the profession, they are required to set up a medical records custodian to take care of their patients’ records. Your doctor or their representative should notify you of the time frame for this change and provide instructions for accessing your medical records. Depending on the records custodian and their abilities, it may be simple or difficult to obtain copies of your records. Copies of your records may arrive in a timely manner, but more than likely it will take forever for them to be delivered to you. By using My Retired Doctor to help place your medical records request, you can avoid dealing with these potential hassles and will receive accurate copies of your records within a reasonable period of time.
What If I Didn’t Submit my Request for Records Before My Doctor Retired?
In general, doctors and healthcare providers are required to keep their patients’ records for a minimum of 7 years. The minimum number of years that records must be kept will vary by state. So even if you forget to place your medical records request before your doctor officially retires, you will still be able to access your records for a certain length of time. However, when dealing with something as important as medical records it is always better to be safe than sorry. In order to be safe, request copies of your medical records right away so there is no chance of them being lost or destroyed during the closure of your doctor’s practice or the transfer to the custodian of records.
Why Should I Use My Retired Doctor for Medical Record Retrieval?
My Retired Doctor makes it easy for patients to obtain copies of their complete medical record charts from their retiring physician. We maintain strict patient privacy standards and ensure that all of the records you receive are accurate. We can return your records to you in any format that you prefer including paper format, a digital copy, or on a CD. You can also utilize My Retired Doctor for medical record retrieval any time you need copies of your medical records for whatever reason—whether it is for your own personal health care management or if you are looking to switch doctors or go to a specialist. Simply fill out our convenient online order form or gives us a call to get started today.