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ADVANCE Perspective: HIM

USA Today Features Article on Patient Records

Published April 29, 2008 10:54 AM by Lisa Algeo
The headline screams, "Across USA, Anxiety Over Access to Patient Records." It grabbed my attention, and I found it to be an interesting read. It seems that back in 2006, USA Today set up a patient safety Web site to give readers a venue to express concerns about inadequate medical care. Readers can send in their own stories, including anything they feel compromised the quality of health care.

Turns out, missing or disputed medical records are the most common source of complaints on their Web site, so they've done an expose on two situations in California where patients didn't get the medical records they requested. Be sure to check it out, and the interesting comments too. Then come back here and tell us what you think. It's always interesting to get the HIM professionals' perspective on things like this.

1 comments

The missing element in this equation is the patient.  I believe there should be a patients' rights amendment allowing all patients to review their own medical records and make corrections to them.  With speech recognition again on the table, it is unbelievable what gets put into a patient's medical record.  Some of it is humorous, but some of it may be life threatening.  If the patient doesn't have the final say on what's in his/her medical record, who should have that responsibility?  The doctor who is dictating erroneous information?

Judy, Medical transcription - Sr. Transcriptionist, Tahoe Fracture Clinic May 20, 2008 1:30 PM
South Lake Tahoe CA

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