ByHow to Request Crouse Hospital Medical Records
Most people understand that they have a right to their medical records, but they don't know how hard it can be to obtain them. Some assume that the introduction of electronic health records sped up the processing of medical records release forms, but it didn't. It's just another piece of paper to scan into the system in case of an audit. If you are trying to , DoNotPay can make sure you get them as quickly as possible.
DoNotPay has helped thousands of people to get their medical records, including those from large hospital networks and healthcare facilities including Kaiser, Mercy, Baptist, and Cleveland Clinic. The reason that DoNotPay is so successful is that it uses AI to efficiently and accurately fill out forms and send them to the right places. If you want to request your medical records, that is exactly what you need.
AI also has an abundance of information and can help you to find answers to your questions about medical records, including:
- How long does a medical facility have to keep your records?
- How do I request my medical records?
Your journey to will be much easier with the help of DoNotPay.
HIPAA and Your Right to Access Health Information
In order to get your medical records, you must follow the legal guidelines outlined in 45 CFR § 164.524. This is part of the regulation known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This act outlines the legal right of the patient concerning protected health information (PHI) and under what conditions that information can be shared.
In most cases, this means a patient must sign a HIPAA disclosure that confirms that the PHI can be shared for medical or billing purposes. The patient must also sign a medical records release to get their own PHI or have it sent elsewhere.
Many people take health privacy for granted since HIPAA was adopted in 1996. However, health care privacy is a big concern. Imagine not going to the doctor for fear someone would find out about an embarrassing or stigmatized condition. The consequences of HIPAA have improved health outcomes and the quality of life for everyone impacted.
How to Get Copies of Your Medical Records from Crouse Hospital
Like most medical facilities, you must fill out an authorization to obtain your medical records from Crouse Hospital. This authorization includes multiple fields, including
- Name
- Date of birth
- Any aliases
- Social security
- To whom the information is to be released (with contact info)
- Purpose of the disclosure
- Exceptions (things you don't want to include)
- Dates of service included
- Requested format
- Date
- Signature
After you have filled out the medical records release, you must return it to Crouse Hospital in one of the following ways:
| Address | Attn: Health Information Management
736 Irving Avenue Syracuse, NY 13210 |
| Website | https://www.crouse.org/visit/patients/medical-records/ |
| Phone Number | 315-470-7111 |
| Fax | 315-470-5609 |
The hospital claims it takes approximately 10 business days to process the request. To view your health records online, Crouse Hospital does have a portal called MyHealthChart available that provides limited information.
Why Might You Need Copies of Your Medical Records?
The reasons that you need copies of your medical records are much less important than the fact that you have a legal right to them. However, some common reasons to need medical records are:
- To contribute to family medical history knowledge
- For continued care elsewhere
- To maintain a complete medical record
- To use as evidence in a lawsuit
- For pre-employment screening
- For a life insurance policy
The reason you need your medical records may differ from the list above, but the list reveals that medical records can be used for a variety of purposes.
How Much Does It Cost to Obtain Medical Records?
The law does allow for medical facilities to charge for medical records. Crouse Hospital states its fee as 75 cents per page.
What Types of Medical Records Are Restricted from Being Released?
In order to understand what types of medical records are restricted from being released, it is important to remember the purpose of HIPAA. One of the many purposes was to get people to seek care without fear of social repercussions. As such, information regarding mental illness, STDs, or drug and alcohol abuse treatment may be omitted. Crouse Hospital specifically asks if there is anything you'd like to remove from the copied record.
Additionally, medical facilities do not have to release psychotherapy notes or records that were gathered for the purpose of legal action or investigation.
Get Your Crouse Hospital Medical Records with the Help of DoNotPay
DoNotPay has seen these requests before and knows how to write your health care provider a simple, clear, and effective letter that will get your legally-guaranteed health records for you in no time.
- Look up medical records on DoNotPay’s website.
- Enter the name of the health care provider you’d like to receive medical records from.
- Answer a few questions about your provider and where you’d like to send the records.
What Else Can DoNotPay Do?
DoNotPay is very effective at helping people get their medical records from healthcare facilities such as . It is also helpful in helping people with many other problems that can arise in life. These include:
- Health care directives
- Birth certificates
- Small claims court
DoNotPay can also help people file a complaint, request sick leave, or get help with bills. If you are looking for a solution, DoNotPay can help!