ByHow to Request Your Mercy Health Medical Records
When it comes to obtaining your medical records, you always have the right to access copies for yourself. This is your right, protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This act, put into place in 1996, protects your health information, but it also outlines your rights to the information and how you, or your representative, can access your medical records.
Whether you need to request due to transferring to a new healthcare provider, to make an insurance claim, to seek a second option, or to involve your family with healthcare decisions. DoNotPay can help you navigate the process.
How Long Are Your Medical Records Saved?
If you are wondering how long medical records are kept, the short answer is - it varies. However, all records that are required by HIPAA must be kept for a minimum of six years. It is important to keep in mind, though, that some states have statutes that require longer record retention. Mercy has Health Information Management centers in four states:
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Missouri
Doctors must keep their medical records for seven years. Hospitals must keep records for at least 10 years; for minors, they must retain records until the minor is 23 years old, whichever is longer.
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Oklahoma
Medical records must be kept for at least five years from the time the patient was last seen/treated, or three years beyond their death. Medical records for newborns or minors must be retained for three years past the age of majority, or 18 years old.
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Arkansas
Beyond the required six years, the Arkansas Medical Society recommends keeping medical records for 10 years, except in cases where the patient is deceased, incompetent, or a minor.
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Arizona
Medical records are required to be kept for six years.
If you ever have questions or concerns, you can contact your State Department of Health for clarification on state medical record laws or HIPAA compliance.
Mercy Hospitals and Contact Details
| Hospital | Location | Contact Details |
| Mercy Hospital Ada | Health Information Management
430 N. Monte Vista Ada, OK 74820 | 580-421-1595 |
| Mercy Hospital Ardmore | Health Information Management
1011 14th Avenue NW Ardmore, OK 73401 | 580-220-6622 |
| Mercy Hospital Carthage | Health Information Management
3125 Dr. Russell Smith Way Carthage, MO 64836 | 417-359-1850 |
| Mercy Hospital Fort Smith | Health Information Management
7301 Rogers Avenue Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903 | 479-314-6262 |
| Mercy Hospital Healdton | Health Information Management
3462 Hospital Road Healdton, OK 73438 | 580-229-1021 |
| Mercy Hospital Jefferson | Health Information Management
1400 US Highway 61 Festus, MO 63028 | 636-933-1521 |
| Mercy Hospital Joplin | Health Information Management
100 Mercy Way Joplin, MO 64804 | 417-556-2175 |
| Mercy Hospital Kingfisher | Health Information Management
1000 Kingfisher Hospital Drive Kingfisher, OK 73750 | 405-375-7813 |
| Mercy Hospital Lebanon | Health Information Management
100 Hospital Drive Lebanon, MO 65536 | 417-533-6054 |
| Mercy Hospital Lincoln | Health Information Management
1000 E. Cherry Street Troy, MO 63379 | 636-528-3262 |
| Mercy Hospital Logan County | Health Information Management
200 S. Academy Road Guthrie, OK 73044 | 405-260-4192 |
| Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas | Health Information Management
2710 S. Rife Medical Lane Rogers, AR 72758 | 479-338-2962 |
| Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City | Health Information Management
4300 West Memorial Road Oklahoma City, OK 73120 | 405-752-3614 |
| Mercy Hospital Springfield | Health Information Management
1235 E. Cherokee Springfield, MO 65804 | 417-820-3200 |
| Mercy Hospital South | Health Information Management
10010 Kennerly Road St. Louis, MO 63128 | 314-525-1239 |
| Mercy Hospital St. Louis | Health Information Management
615 S. New Ballas Road St. Louis, MO 63141 | 314-251-4622 |
| Mercy Hospital Tishomingo | Health Information Management
1000 S. Byrd St. Tishomingo, OK 73460 | 580-371-2327 |
| Mercy Hospital Washington | Health Information Management
901 E. Fifth Street Washington, MO 63090 | 636-239-8222 |
How to Request Mercy Medical Records on Your Own
To authorize the release of your personal medical records, you must fill out the appropriate medical records release form. Everything must be done accurately and properly so that the medical facility can verify that they are following HIPAA and not violating your rights.
- Go to Mercy's page, titled Requesting Mercy Medical Records
- Choose the Patient Request form titled Access to Protected Health Information (PHI)
- Additional forms are available for different services. While they may be applicable for your needs, verify that you are filling out the correct forms.
- If you have questions about any of the forms, you should contact your local Health Information Management office. To do this, click the name of your local office and find the address and phone number.
- Fill in the form accurately and completely to avoid any delays. Ensure that form is accurate, including:
- Patient information (name, DOB, address, etc.)
- The type of medical records you are requesting (x-rays, pathology reports, etc.)
- The date of service
- An acknowledgment that if any records include sensitive information (STI, drug use, mental health, etc.) it may be included unless you specifically decline access to it
- The name of who is to receive the records, if not yourself
- The format in which you prefer to receive your information, whether physical copy, CD, flash drive or other available methods
- The method in which you will access the information - in person, by mail, fax, etc.
- Required signatures
- You may need to pay a reasonable fee for the labor of copying, postage, etc., as allowed by HIPAA and state laws.
- You should be able to submit your medical request release form in person or by mailing it to your local Health Information Management Office.
Although you may want to try to get your medical records yourself, you can also learn how to request your medical records the easy way with DoNotPay.
Let DoNotPay Easily Request Your Medical Records
No matter why you want to request your , it does not have to be a difficult or tedious process. DoNotPay can handle the work for you, so you can focus on your health and well-being.
How to request medical records using 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.
Request Medical Records From Any Facility
In addition to requesting Mercy medical records, DoNotPay can request your records from any hospital or medical facility. We can help you file a request for electronic health records, or we can also request physical copies on your behalf of:
- Cleveland Clinic medical records
- Baptist medical records
- Kaiser medical records
How Else Can DoNotPay Help?
Not only does DoNotPay request medical records, we can help you with a variety of other concerns, including, but not limited to:
- Filing a complaint
- Negotiating your bills
- Requesting sick leave
- Obtaining birth certificates
- Suing in small claims court
No matter what problem you are facing, DoNotPay has a solution that will save you time and stress!