[ibshelpibshelp]

Hi-,When in college i visited doctor in campus for stomoch problems. She sent me for barium scanning of upper stomoch. The test results were normal. I asked my doctor I wanted a copy of test result. She said when I graduate i can come and pick up the test results, or if any other doctors want to see this test result, the doctor can contact her and she can send the reports to doctor. In other words she said on my face she cant give me reports back(My own reports!!!!).8 months back i visited dentist. He took x ray of all my teeth, found problem with some and did some filling. I asked him the report which has info about which tooth has been filled etc,.. He said he will keep the report with him and if i want the report in future, if i contact him,he will send the report directly to the doctor.I guess same thing happend for my colonoscopy. I had test, it was normal, but i dont have report with me.I really want to keep a copy of report with me so that in future when i need it will be easy for me. Other wise i have to contact above doctors in future, and iam sure how many years they keep the records with them, if they change the hospitals,.. etc,..Is it common that doctors dont give reports back? I am sorry this is not specifically related to IBS. Please let me know,....

 

[lindylou8]

Hi. As far as my gastro goes, he always sends me a copy of the tests. My other docs. will too if I ask. Dont know about the dentist though. Never asked for them!

Linda

 

[degrassi]

I always ask for copies of reports or my file. Its my information and I like to have copies just in case. My doctors have never really had a problem with giving me copies. At most they have just asked why I wanted it and I'd tell them I want it for my own records and that I keep copies of all my medical files. I find it especially helpful to have copies when you are visiting different specialists. That way you can show them the reports without having to wait for your GP to send copies. A good doctor shouldn't have any issues with giving you copies of your records. They are YOUR records!

 

[BQ]

A good doctor shouldn't have any issues with giving you copies of your records.

I agree & Absolutely! Ask them for copies again!

 

[ibshelpibshelp]

Just visited 30 minutes back a dentist, for check up. They took x-ray of 2 tooth. I asked them the copies. They said they need to keep the x-rays etc with them. If i want a copy i need to pay 25$, and they will post the copies to my home address,..May be this is the standard practice, I dont know,..

 

[BQ]

Well wanting copies of the Xrays themselves may indeed cost $25. But a simple copy of the report of the said xray shouldn't cost more than a dime!

 

[degrassi]

Well wanting copies of the Xrays themselves may indeed cost $25. But a simple copy of the report of the said xray shouldn't cost more than a dime!

Agreed, copies of xrays are harder to get and expensive. But getting a photocopy of the reports shouldn't be a problem, at the most they could make you pay for the copies(5-10cents/page).

 

[jessica.lee]

I am a Laboratory / Histopathology Tech. and from personal and professional experience one of the main reasons that doctors do not distribute reports to patients is due to lack of understanding the report on the patients behalf, a lot of times patients read the reports or show their friend or something and suddenly the words "benign polyp" mean you are dying, according to your friend's mom's sister who had the same thing didn't she? Obviously most of the people on this site know as much as possible about their illness and clearly know how to use the internet to figure out terminology they don't understand, but trust me, most of the general population doesn't! And if reports were handed out to patients we would have a world of hypochonriacs... I hope you all are able to obtain your reports because I know what it is like to be shuffled between 15 different specialists! But I just wanted to explain one reason why reports are not handed out! Also, I'm not sure what you have in the US, but in Canada we have something called NetCare, an online medical history from day one of each person, no matter which province you were in, or what test, if it was as simple as a single blood test or as complicated as a surgery, it is listed with all results, and this is available to every Doctor.

 

[legbuh]

If you're in the US, call the hospital. Ask to speak to the person in charge of release of records. They'll give you anything you want for free (minus x-rays). But, pretty much any report, bloodwork, etc they have on paper you have a right to a copy of. I started doing this a few years ago and was amazed and the incompetence of my GP and some of the notes.. he may be just "thinking out loud" but some of the stuff is comical.