The medical provider or facility that prepares them is generally considered the owner of the physical medical records and the information contained within them.
Understanding Medical Record Ownership
When you receive medical care, the healthcare provider or facility, such as a hospital, clinic, or individual practitioner, creates and maintains a record of your health information. This record, along with all its contents, is the property of the entity that compiled it. This principle applies to a wide range of documentation, including:
- Written physician's notes
- Laboratory test results
- Prescription records
- Diagnostic imaging materials
This ownership extends specifically to physical items like films and tracings from various diagnostic procedures, such as X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, MRI images, and ultrasound reports.
Patient Rights vs. Provider Ownership
It is crucial to understand that while the healthcare provider or facility owns the physical medical record, this ownership does not prevent patients from accessing their health information. Patients retain significant rights concerning the information within their records. These rights typically include:
- Right to Access: Patients have the right to review their medical records.
- Right to Copies: Patients can obtain copies of their medical information, although a reasonable fee may be charged for the copying process.
- Right to Amend: Patients can request amendments or corrections to their medical records if they believe the information is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Right to Direct Copies: Patients can often direct their healthcare providers to send copies of their records to other healthcare providers or third parties.
These patient rights ensure that individuals can manage their healthcare effectively, receive continuous care from different providers, and have control over their personal health information, even though the physical records themselves are the property of the healthcare entity that created them.
