The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 generally grants people in the U.S. access to their medical records. According to the United States Department of Health & Human Services website, “Patients generally should be able to see and obtain copies of their medical records and request corrections if they identify errors and mistakes. Health plans, doctors, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other covered entities generally should provide access these records within 30 days and may charge patients for the cost of copying and sending the records.”

A recent survey done to assess the demand for access to medical records found that 36 percent of people who responded were very interested in reviewing their medical records whereas 43 percent were somewhat interested. It was also found that the primary reason for someone wanting to see their records were to be more involved in their own healthcare, to understand their own condition better and to see what their doctor was saying about them.

A lead author of the study, Jinnet B. Fowles, said that all research shows that when patients and doctors share information, the communication between them improves. The one issue that worries doctors, however, are patients seeing their progress notes, “Doctors are concerned that patients won’t understand these notes, or that the patient will misinterpret them.” Fowles adds.

The study also showed that patients who wanted to read their own medical records were more likely to report seeking other health information on their own, thus taking a proactive approach to their own care. “As we move to more consumer involvement in health care, the medical record is the most vital tool that patients have to understanding their health.” Says Fowles.

Stay Informed