Understanding Medical Record Access: Why Restrictions Occur

A medical record is a legal business account of a patient's medical history. Although the patient owns the information, the health care provider owns the physical record. In some instances, providers may deny patients access to their medical record.

Lack of Proper Authorization

• A health care provider will only release medical records if the patient has signed an authorization.

Patient Still Receiving Care

• Health care providers will not release medical records while a patient is still being treated because it presents an incomplete picture of the patient's medical history.

Incomplete Record

• It often takes a few days after treatment for a patient's record to be completed. A health care provider will not release a patient's medical record until it contains all reports and signatures.

Harmful to Patient

• Information that may be harmful to a patient, such as psychiatric or drug rehabilitation notes, is not required to be released unless instructed to do so by a court of law.

No Longer Available

• Health care providers are required to keep patient information for a set period of time, but not indefinitely. The amount of time varies by state law. A patient's record past required retention may have been disposed of and no longer available.