Can a doctor withhold your test results.......

[LisaR]

Can a doctor withhold your test results until you come in or do they have to give you the results if you request them (photocopy)?

My son had an EEG and blood work done. I think the tests were totally unnecessary. I truly was not even remotely in favor of them but the doctor made me feel like I would be the worst parent in the world if I didn't get the tests done.

They called today to tell me that the EEG was normal. I asked for the blood work results and she said they were not all back yet. The doctor ordered a ridiculous amount of blood work that even the tech commented on (11 vials and some needed to be shipped off to special labs. Can't wait for that bill ). The girl said they should be in in another week and I can get the results when I bring him in for his follow-up appointment. I told her we do not have another appointment and the doctor never mentioned coming back. If the EEG is normal and the blood also comes back normal, why would we even need to come back in? She said the doctor will not give me the results for the blood work unless we return for an appointment. Really?? I thought those records belong to the patient (or in this case the parent since the patient is a minor). Am I wrong? Can they refuse to give me the results by phone or deny me a copy of the results unless we come in?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I thought HIPAA required it.

As for who it belongs to--don't recall teh specs...but as far as ownership--a medical office can even charge for copies. You are entitled to the records--but you don't "own" them per se.

In the meantime, I'd be spreading good will via word of mouth when all is said and done. What a wretched way to run a practice.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My doctor sent my results by mail with a short note that eveything looks good in her own handwriting.

Not sure about the withholding results thing. I guess if he did all that bloodwork, I would probably go in to hear what he had to say.

 

[Stacerita]

Yes they can deny you the results by phone. They can not deny you a copy of the results though. They do have the right to charge you for them. They also do not have to turn them over to you immediately. By law they have time to do the correspondence. Depending on where you are at, it can be around 5 working days. And the patient record is the property of the physician, not the patient. You may want to go in and have the physician interpret the results though. Most people would not be able to "read" what a lab report actually means.

 

[LisaR]

I should note that if there is something wrong (which I highly doubt) I do not mind going in at all. Also, I do not mind paying for a copy of the results. It just really irritates me that they are going to make us take time out of our day and pay another office visit when they don't even know if anything is wrong. If the lab comes back with a problem, call me up and tell me to book an appointment. If the results are fine, tell me and we won't be back. This was a one time deal with this doctor. He is a specialist and if there aren't any problems, there isn't any need to see him again. Plus, why give me the EEG results but insist that we come in for the lab results? Oh wait, I know......he has a Mercedes payment he needs to make. We have an appointment set up for the end of the month and assuming all is fine, I will make my displeasure known.

 

[DebbieB]

My doctor will give you a copy if you go into the office or send them a self addressed envelope. They will not fax or e-mail.

 

[mking624]

That would really frustrate me. My situation wasn't dealing with specific results, but medical records in general. My son was born in Florida and his pediatrician was there. When we got ready to move to Oklahoma, we requested from the office copies of his medical record so we could give them to his new pediatrician here. They absolutely refused and said all they would do is fax the records to the new pediatrician. They would only give me his immunization certificate. Only recently did I learn this is in violation of HIPAA. I know that physicians can charge for copies (within reason), but as far as I know, you should be allowed to just request a copy without being required to set up a new appointment for it.
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/medicalrecords.html

 

[happygirl]

I have been told they can't give out any test results over the phone, for one thing how can they make sure it you calling about them? Second I have always been told a nurse can't interpert the results.

 

[denisenh]

Can a doctor withhold your test results until you come in or do they have to give you the results if you request them (photocopy)?

My son had an EEG and blood work done. I think the tests were totally unnecessary. I truly was not even remotely in favor of them but the doctor made me feel like I would be the worst parent in the world if I didn't get the tests done.

They called today to tell me that the EEG was normal. I asked for the blood work results and she said they were not all back yet. The doctor ordered a ridiculous amount of blood work that even the tech commented on (11 vials and some needed to be shipped off to special labs. Can't wait for that bill ). The girl said they should be in in another week and I can get the results when I bring him in for his follow-up appointment. I told her we do not have another appointment and the doctor never mentioned coming back. If the EEG is normal and the blood also comes back normal, why would we even need to come back in? She said the doctor will not give me the results for the blood work unless we return for an appointment. Really?? I thought those records belong to the patient (or in this case the parent since the patient is a minor). Am I wrong? Can they refuse to give me the results by phone or deny me a copy of the results unless we come in?

What was the doctor looking for? What happened to your son that initiated this type of testing?

 

[LisaR]

I have been told they can't give out any test results over the phone, for one thing how can they make sure it you calling about them? Second I have always been told a nurse can't interpert the results.

I called them yesterday for the EEG results and they called me back today to tell me everything was normal. If they couldn't give out any results over the phone, they never should have given me those results.

 

[happygirl]

I called them yesterday for the EEG results and they called me back today to tell me everything was normal. If they couldn't give out any results over the phone, they never should have given me those results.

Maybe it has to do with them calling you. I dunno

 

[MrsToad]

Whenever I get blood work done, I make a request at the lab to have a copy of the results sent to me in addition to the doctor. The facility has me sign a form and I usually get the results within a few days of the tests. I have never had to pay a fee for my copy.

The doctors do, of course, go over the results with me once they get their copy. This has been done by mail, by phone, or in person, depending on the purpose and results of the tests.

 

[LisaR]

Maybe it has to do with them calling you. I dunno

When I called, I asked for the EEG and blood work results. They were having some kind of service day and said someone would call me back today. When the nurse called back, she said the blood work wasn't back yet and the EEG was normal. She added that I could just wait and get the blood results back at the follow up appointment. When I told her we didn't have a follow up and the doctor never said we needed to come back for anything, she said that would be the only way I would be able to get the results from the blood work. We went round and round but I ended up making an appointment. I am positive that if the results would have been available today, she would have given them to me over the phone. Once she figured out that they could potentially lose an office call by giving me the results, her whole attitude changed.

 

[dis-happy]

I was having a problem getting blood test results from a specialist my ds saw. First they had to come in, the doctor had to review them and sign something, THEN the nurse would enter it into the computer. Blah, blah, blah and the doctor who was supposed to call me back kept not calling back as promised.

Anyway, I figured an end run around them. Asked to have a copy faxed to my ped (whom I LOVE and ADORE) and got the results that way. Since then I've written my ped's fax number on ALL bloodwork that we have done with specialists so she always gets a copy. Then I just call the office, they put a copy in an envelope for me, and I swing by and pick it up.

I'd cancel that appt.

One other note: It's possible that they've already noticed something on the results that are in but she can't come out and say that; in which case having you come in makes sense.

 

[LisaR]

I was having a problem getting blood test results from a specialist my ds saw. First they had to come in, the doctor had to review them and sign something, THEN the nurse would enter it into the computer. Blah, blah, blah and the doctor who was supposed to call me back kept not calling back as promised.

Anyway, I figured an end run around them. Asked to have a copy faxed to my ped (whom I LOVE and ADORE) and got the results that way. Since then I've written my ped's fax number on ALL bloodwork that we have done with specialists so she always gets a copy. Then I just call the office, they put a copy in an envelope for me, and I swing by and pick it up.

I'd cancel that appt.

One other note: It's possible that they've already noticed something on the results that are in but she can't come out and say that; in which case having you come in makes sense.

Great idea! I will do that in the morning. Thanks so much.

I don't think they have spotted anything. When we went to the lab for the blood draw, the tech said it would take weeks to get all the results back so I honestly don't think anything has come back yet.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Just be grateful if everything comes back normal, even if you have to take your son in for an appointment.

I think there are varying levels of bad news possible from lab results and the way the news is conveyed says something about the severity. I once had my primary care doctor call (not his office manager or a nurse... the doctor called) saying he already found a specialist to fit me in for an appointment. Today. In three hours. Don't have the car today? Call a cab. Be prepared to be admitted for surgery when you go.

Now anytime I am asked to schedule a follow up to go over test results I consider it a blessing. Usually means nothing too bad was found.

 

[disfan07]

They usually wont give you results until everything is back anyways.

At least none of my doctors will.

My dermatologist does lab results by encrypted email.

Ive never gotten lab results over the phone until they all come in.

 

[LindaG4458]

One of my doctors sends normal test results via email. When I heard her on the other end of the phone I knew there was a problem. I was right.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have been told they can't give out any test results over the phone, for one thing how can they make sure it you calling about them? Second I have always been told a nurse can't interpert the results.

Well I just called my doc the other day and got some results. My thyroid test did not come back on the results the doc sent me so I called and the nurse told me my results.

 

[KPeveler]

Can a doctor withhold your test results until you come in or do they have to give you the results if you request them (photocopy)?

My son had an EEG and blood work done. I think the tests were totally unnecessary. I truly was not even remotely in favor of them but the doctor made me feel like I would be the worst parent in the world if I didn't get the tests done.

They called today to tell me that the EEG was normal. I asked for the blood work results and she said they were not all back yet. The doctor ordered a ridiculous amount of blood work that even the tech commented on (11 vials and some needed to be shipped off to special labs. Can't wait for that bill ). The girl said they should be in in another week and I can get the results when I bring him in for his follow-up appointment. I told her we do not have another appointment and the doctor never mentioned coming back. If the EEG is normal and the blood also comes back normal, why would we even need to come back in? She said the doctor will not give me the results for the blood work unless we return for an appointment. Really?? I thought those records belong to the patient (or in this case the parent since the patient is a minor). Am I wrong? Can they refuse to give me the results by phone or deny me a copy of the results unless we come in?

They cannot withhold your labs from you, but they also have the right to require you to come into the office to get them (or to send them a signed document) to request them. They do not have to read the results you on the phone. but you can always go by the office and request a photocopy of them. btw they also have the right to make you pay for that photocopy.