I went to my doctor's office to get a copy of my blood work

[Jodi1980]

and they didn't ask me for ID to make sure it was me! I didn't think anything of it until later and realized that they have never asked for ID in the past. I asked the lady at the desk for a copy of my most recent blood work and she pulled my file and made me a copy. I could have asked for anyone's information. I'm going to write a letter to the office and let them know that they could probably get into a lot of trouble for this oversight!

 

[Lezah]

Jodi, could the person behind the desk have recognized you? Maybe that is why they didn't ask for id. I work in a doctors office and I recognize the majority of our patients. Just a thought.

 

[Jodi1980]

No chance.

 

[Jodi1980]

..

 

[Microcell]

I work at a Doctors office and we usually do not just hand over copies of anything to a patient, if we know them or not. We have them sign a release of information, then pull the chart for the Doc to decide if they want to write a letter or make copies. It is a two or three day process. We ask date of birth, but it is bad for business to ask for ID. Our patients like to think they are remebered (for that reason my doc makes notes in the margin about where kids go to school and what activity they participate in or Grandparents having just had a grandchild). I could just hear some of them- they use the doc's first name and say "Well, Tom knows me, his great uncle twice removed was my DD's soccer coach" We would get letters for sure if we asked for ID!

 

[Jodi1980]

Do you compare the signatures? It just seems risky not to ask for ID.

 

[Shelle&Dave]

I work in the Radiology office at a hospital. They just recently started requiring a release form to be filled out when picking up xray films. Anyone can pick up films for anyone else. They do not have to be a relative and they do not need to show ID.

I do worry about it, especially since it is the original films that are going out. Some of the scans (MRI, CT) are kept on our computers so they can be reproduced, but a normal xray film cannot.

 

[JayBee]

Originally posted by Microcell
I work at a Doctors office and we usually do not just hand over copies of anything to a patient, if we know them or not. We have them sign a release of information,

Yep! That's what we did to get DH's blood work results, too.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I did not even think anything of it until now, but my Dr's. office just handed mine over to me too! And no, they don't know me.

 

[Nancy]

I had to sign a release form to get my x-rays. They wanted to know why I was taking them (going to see an orthopedic surgeon) where and when I going to see him. I have already returned them back to the office.

 

[Shelle&Dave]

Right. In order to pickup the xrays from us we need to know the patients name, date of birth, which doctor they will be going to and what type of films they are looking for (Ultrasound, CT, MRI, xrays etc).

We ask for the doctor's name because if the films are not returned within a couple of months we will call the doctor's office and ask them to send the films back. We like to keep them inhouse in case the patient comes in again and the new films need to be compared to the old ones.

 

[Jodi1980]

I think I'm going to have a note put in my medical file not to give out any of my information without verifying it is me!

 

[Carl]

Is it just me? I don't care who knows my medical history. Maybe if I was trying to get some insurance or something and wanted to hide a condition, I would. But, even then, if they find out you lied, they can cancel you and deny any claims. So, what's the deal with hiding your medical history?

 

[Cinders]

So, what's the deal with hiding your medical history?

Because its very personal information. I rarely tell people around me that I've had my tubes tied because I don't care to get into the whole discussion about their opinions of if I should have done it. Many people around here are Catholic and do not believe in birth control and I feel its none of their business what I do with my body. Nor do I tell people around me that I had a tubal pregnancy that almost killed me......it's my body, my history and my choice to share that information or not.

As for the records...if anyone comes into or calls my office wanting a copy of their records they have to provide me with their full name, DOB, and SS#. If their attorney requests the information they are charged $15.