Question

A patient comes to the multi-physician office and demands his medical records to take to another doctor. Who actually owns these records? And what is the proper procedure?

a) The patient owns the records, and the proper procedure is to provide a copy of the records to the patient.
b) The physician owns the records, and the proper procedure is to deny the patient's request.
c) The medical assistant owns the records, and the proper procedure is to consult with the office manager.
d) The insurance company owns the records, and the proper procedure is to request their approval before releasing them.

Answer 1

The physician's office holds custody of the medical records, but the patient has the right to access them. HIPAA regulations ensure patient privacy while allowing access to their personal health information, crucial when a patient requires records to be transferred or for personal use.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient demands their medical records, it should be understood that while the physician's office maintains the physical or electronic custody of the records, the content is about the patient, and they have a legal right to access it. Therefore, the correct answer to who actually owns these records is that the physician owns the records, but the proper procedure is to provide a copy of the records to the patient upon request. According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare providers are required to maintain strict confidentiality while also providing patients with the means to obtain their health records when transferring care or for their personal use.

While maintaining the security and privacy of personal health information, developing policies must consider how to appropriately balance treatment costs, patient quality of life, and privacy risks. Any policy formulated would require addressing these concerns while ensuring compliance with legal standards and ethical considerations.