Be very careful regarding your medical records

[dick0236]

Recently, I experience a very bad experience with my Cardio and their medical record keeping and I pass this along FWIW.

As ya'll know I had OHS a long, long time ago, 1967. Since that time, I have seen only one Cardio Group which has grown from 3 cardiologist to 25 cardiologist(the largest cardio group in Louisville, KY). Because of their
large size and "take a ticket, take a seat" attitude towards patients (my opinion), I decided to seek a new cardio group. Up to this time, I had never had a need for access to my medical records held by them. When I requested my medical records to give to a new cardio, I was informed that ALL my records from 1967 to 1992 had somehow been destroyed. It even took a complaint to the top management of the practice to get a complete set of records from my recent appointments and tests.

This has taught me not to be "nieve" in thinking my recorts and test results are "safe" with my docs. From this point forward, I will ask to receive copies of all meaningful tests and/or important encounters with my physicians......ya gotta "watch your OWN back".

 

[catwoman]

Dick:

You have a right to be upset. That is incompetent office management!

I keep all my echoes, TEE reports, annual lab work on a flash drive, going back to April 2003. I also have chart notes from the last visit to my former cardio.

I have copied all and sent them to my new cardio, with a request that I be sent copies of my echo from 6/17/09 and a TEE on 6/23/09. Also sent a letter to my new cardio about errors in the chart notes from 6/24/08.

 

[Jkm7]

Sorry this happened to you, Dick, but thanks for the heads up.

 

[catwoman]

Dick:

It took quite a bit for me to get copies of some of my records from my previous cardio. I called; I wrote. Finally, when leaving my new cardio's office on June 17, I drove the 1 block to the old cardio's office and demanded copies of my records. Got all echoes, the TEE report, carotid ultrasound report, chart notes from 6/24/08 -- but no other chart notes.

The new cardio told me 6/17 that he had not received copies of my previous echoes, TEE, carotid test. Only chart notes from 6/24/08.

When I sent copies of everything to my new cardio, I noted the errors in the chart notes from 6/24/08. My old cardio was sooooooooooooo convinced I had had a TEE. My new cardio & my family doc believe I had mono instead, since the symptoms followed severe bronchitis by 4-5 weeks. Timing was right on for mono and its symptoms. Symptoms of a TEE don't linger for 3 months.

I would encourage everyone to get copies of all their medical reports and chart notes. Examine the chart notes. Medical people don't always understand what you tell them, and errors creep in.

 

[njean]

I found this to be the case too Dick. None of my records from my first 2 OHS back in 1975 are around anymore in Houston. The records center there told me that after 10 years, they purge everything.

I found this to be the case too with my very first & long-time cardiologist after he retired. All my records were purged from 28+ years!!!! You would have thought that they could have at least let me know that they were going to destroy all that valuable information prior to doing it.

So since my last OHS in 2006, I have copies of all my surgerical records, notes, tests, X-rays, CD's, etc., & I keep everything in a box I have titled, "medical records". I actually started doing this when I applied for my medical disability w/my last employer & with Social Security.

 

[dick0236]

I found this to be the case too Dick. None of my records from my first 2 OHS back in 1975 are around anymore in Houston. The records center there told me that after 10 years, they purge everything.


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Norma, I am dumbfounded to hear stories like yours.....and mine. I am now puzzled as to where the information, that is written concerning long term survival, long time use of warfarin, etc., comes from. How in the hell can long term conclusions be made if the medical profession is not keeping our long term records. I actually had to show my "Edwards ID card" to prove that my valve was put in long before their records indicated.

Catwoman....If only I knew what a "flash drive" was ?? Remember, I'm from the "pre-computer generation". The only reason I can find my way around a computer is because the "keyboard" is much like a "typewriter"...but thanks for the input.

 

[catwoman]

All:

Now that most, if not all, medical providers are entering data online, how long will they keep that info?

 

[Karlynn]

That is really very unsettling. The records I just had sent to my new cardio are fairly complete as far as I can tell. This makes me think I need to call their office and request that I get a copy of all my records. I'll be happy to pay for the duplicating. But I don't have a lot of my older records.

Dick look at the upside - I guess this means you're 25 years younger since the years 1967 to 1992 are gone.

 

[njean]

When I went looking for a new cardiologist after my long-time cardio retired, I went to one that said that none of my previous records would have mattered to him anyway since I would be starting with day 1 with him!!!

Needless to say, I did not keep him for very long because he began taking me off medication that I had been on for almost 28 years & had been doing very well with it until then!!! He took me off of Lanoxin which I had been on since 1974 & the only explanation he gave me was, "that's what I think is best for you!!! A year or so later, the pressures in my aortic & mitral started to get much worse. I still wonder if that could have been one big reason for that! ..... oh well, too late now, but you live & learn!

 

[dick0236]

Dick look at the upside - I guess this means you're 25 years younger since the years 1967 to 1992 are gone.

Never thought of it that way.....now that I'm 48 again, how 'bout a date.

 

[Guest]

All:

Now that most, if not all, medical providers are entering data online, how long will they keep that info?

Interesting observation. I would think that digital records would be able to be kept longer than the paper ones, but then again, they may purge the digital ones every so often to save space....


I have copies of all of my older records, as far as I can tell. I got most of them a couple years ago, and a few prior to that. I haven't taken the time to read through ALL of them (a good portion of them, though)....



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...RT 66 = Sept 5-16, '09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Someday you will find me" ... Oasis ... 'Champaign Supernova'

 

[Gnusgal]

I remember when I was moving from Houston to DFW (got married) I requested my medical records from the one and only cardiologist I'd ever had. As I read through the cath reports from when I was 3 days and 3 years old I read information I was unaware of (and I was always very aware of my condition, so I thought). If I'd been going off my own knowledge I would have skipped a very pertinent piece of information when meeting my new doc. It is very important that we all obtain as much of this information as possible and keep it ourselves. After all, we're more important to ourselves than some data clerk doing file cleanup. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[tobagotwo]

I'm usually a bear about getting copies of my records. Years ago, when I moved from one practice to another, I happened to glance at my records on the counter. Except they weren't mine. They had accidentally gotten records for Richard H instead of Robert H. Incredibly, seeing that was wrong, they simply crossed off Richard and put Robert in its place. So I have no illusions about the sanctity (or accuracy) of medical records.

More recently, I called the cardiologist for the results of my last 6-month echo. Still at 1.1 cm², I was told, heart normal and unchanged. So, I didn't bother to go get it. Now, six months later, I have an echo at .74 cm², and at the bottom, it indicates my previous was .8 cm². With the delay in recognizing that I was already under 1 cm² and eligible for surgery, and my heart now under extended severe duress, I now have calcificaton and mild regurgitation of the mitral valve, mild regurgitation of the Tricuspid valve, and Atrial Fibrillation. It appears they somehow "lost" the results of that last echo for a few months and never put it in my file. Even in the appointment last week, the cardio told us that my previous echo was 1.1 cm².

More to my horror, the cardio wasn't about to send me to or even mention a surgeon. He said .74 cm² was only "moderate to severe," because the latest fashion in cardiology is to ignore the ratings last year that said less than 1 cm² is severe, and now not consider it severe until it's at .6 cm², which is almost sure to cause long-term heart damage in many, maybe most patients. Witness that my echo at 1.1 showed no calcification, no involvement of the mitral or tricuspid valves, and no AFib. Did he ever consider age, symptoms, or beginning to see involvement of other valves? What in the heck happened to common sense?

Please be aware that most cardiothoracic surgeons will take you if you are under 1 cm² with symptoms, so you don't have to wait until you have permanent damage to your heart. You don't have to be at the mercy of a cardiologist who values conformity with his cronies over observation. If you're under 1 cm² and have symptoms, and your cardiologist isn't talking to you about surgery, by all means, go get a second opinion. I have a meeting with my surgeon on Tuesday. At .74 cm², there isn't a cardiothoracic surgeon who wouldn't take me. If I waited for below.6 cm², I might not even be healthy enough for surgery anymore. As it is, I may wind up losing my mitral valve too in another five years, due to the delay, along with the long, slow decine as it calcifies.

Keep copies of and read your records and tests. If you don't feel you are being offered treatment that makes sense, ask questions. If the answers aren't satisfying, get another opinion. Don't forget: doctors can pass med school with Cs as well as As. And they can get busy and ignore your records and results. And by far most cardiologists are much more competent and comfortable with blocked arteries than they are with blocked valves.

Best wishes,