Reading Charts and Records

I wonder whether the medical group practices and hospitals that allow patients to review and copy their medical records online are posting the entire record or just a summary of it. It has been a while since I have requested a hard copy of my records (the last time was when I moved out of state) so I have not done a comparison. Has anyone compared the online to the hard copies?

I know in the UK you can request to have a copy of your medical records, but I'm not sure how much information is sent out to you as I have never had to request my medical records. Accessing them is free, and healthcare professionals have a legal requirement to allow you to see them.

The information in your records can include your:

• name, age and address
• health conditions
• treatments and medicines
• allergies and past reactions to medicines
• tests, scans and X-ray results
• specialist care, such as maternity or mental health
• lifestyle information, such as whether you smoke or drink
• hospital admission and discharge information

GP Record

GP records include information about your medicine, allergies, vaccinations, previous illnesses and test results, hospital discharge summaries, appointment letters and referral letters.

You can access your GP records, and nominate someone you trust to access them. This can be done online or with your GP., through GP online services.

To get your health records online you need to register for GP online services. This is a 3 step process that can take from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.

Summary Card Record

If you're registered with a GP surgery, you'll have a Summary Care Record unless you've chosen not to have one. It contains basic information including your allergies, medicines and any reactions you've had to medicine in the past.

During the coronavirus outbreak, you will also have extra information added to your record. This includes significant medical history (past and present), reasons for medicines, care plan information and vaccinations.

You cannot get your Summary Care Record online. If you'd like to see it, speak to your GP.

@srg_rik I‘m in the US and I know the hospital I use for most of my care doesn’t make everything available on the portal. I know for one of my doctors, he specifically puts everything in a section that isn’t visible via the portal. I noticed one of the summaries he made a comment like “view xyz for encounter“. Well I couldn’t see anything until I got a hard copy mailed to me on a CD then I could read everything. I’ve noticed he does that for every encounter which I dislike. The most detailed visit summary from him was “scheduled US at PT request“. Most of my other doctors put a good amount of info where I’m able to see it though.

So I know for the major university hospital that I use, they have sections in the record that aren’t shown via the portal. Also for surgeries and procedures there’s really no details online. You’ve gotta get the hard copies to see anything.

TL😁R: You can’t see everything online. They have sections that aren’t included in the online “summary“.

@srg_rik I‘m in the US and I know the hospital I use for most of my care doesn’t make everything available on the portal. I know for one of my doctors, he specifically puts everything in a section that isn’t visible via the portal….. TL😁R: You can’t see everything online. They have sections that aren’t included in the online “summary“.

@MedFet_AL Thanks for your post. I think I will now request hard copies after each annual exam (I have one coming up in a few weeks) to see what, if anything, is missing.

@srg_rik Honestly, you probably won’t find much. I’ve only had one shocking discovery of something a provider thought but never said anything to me about. I only saw him once and my primary disagreed so it’s whatever. If you find anything interesting, let us know!