Wondering why doctors don't communicate with one another readily

[agate]

I didn't know you could request a copy of all records from a visit before leaving the doctor's office for that visit. I'm definitely going to try that. Usually lately the PCP has given me an "after visit summary" on my way out but it doesn't always contain all relevant information. I'd like to see the "chart notes"--I think that's what they're called. And the neuro, the ophthalmologist, the ENT doctor, and the podiatrist don't ever provide any takeaway documents.

When I request records later on, I often get told there would be a (substantial) fee, or "We don't usually send out records except to other doctors," or "We don't keep records that long"--sometimes they say they keep them for only a couple of years.

I'm wondering why medical providers are eager to bury their records. I've heard that many doctors live in terror of malpractice suits, and so maybe there are too many litigious patients giving them a rough time.

[Virginia]

I have only two main doctors. I don't count my ophthalmologist or dentist. The two main ones are my PCP and my Neuro. Both have websites and it is fairly easy to look up all lab results, so at this time I am not too concerned. However if I was with the VA or some place like that I would be. Some years ago I wanted to file a claim due to my husband's death. They told me at first they didn't have any records on him. He served 27 years in the Army -- active duty. Then they told me his records had been shipped some place like Chicago and had burned. There was a possibility of quite a bit of money for me if my claim had been approved, but I couldn't even file it. I have enough records here to prove he served that long and that he served in Vietnam, but without his health records nothing mattered. So yes, to those of you who have a more complicated situation by all means keep your records yourself if you can.

[agate]

The military must be pretty good at losing records. I ran into a similar problem in connection with my mother's father, who definitely served in WWI. In fact, he signed up for two tours of duty. My mother and her sister remember this, have photos of him in uniform, etc., but the Army has no record of his service because he enlisted, and they don't have those records any more. They have records of the draftees. Maybe it's just too much to ask for records from over 100 years ago. Your husband's records should have been accessible though.

And I just had a good experience asking for medical records. I called the neuro's medical records department and asked for all of her records over the last few years. They are sending the record from the most recent visit (September) right away, at no charge, and will send the others after I write a letter requesting them, again at no charge.

I did want to see what she found going on in my eyes because she spent a long time looking into them. Sometimes doctors find things going on, don't mention it to the patient but note it on the record.