How do I obtain a copy of my mental health records??
Question: Can anyone give me a website that tells me of my right to this information?
Answers: It's a bit different with mental health records-you have a right to review and inspect them, but generally this is done in the presence of a counselor or supervisor in order to explain pieces that might be difficult to understand or that could be disturbing. Generally you will need to make a formal written request that also explains your reasons for wanting access to your records. Further, information contained in the record which references others needs to be blacked out and this is true even in situations where a court order is obtained. Mental health professionals and agencies have the right to withhold portions of a record that they consider could be potentially damaging to a client as a psychiatric record is not written for review by the client. There usually is a procedure if you are denied access to your records which allows the alternative where you can have a designee review your records with a therapist if there is a strong concern that the information in it could be damaging. The laws and statutes governing client access to their records varies by state, so you would need to explore with your provider what their procedures are for this.
Having said all this, I have had clients occasionally request access to their records and that request has never been denied. Generally the reasons why a client has requested access were sound and the common reason is to review progress in order to validate their own perception of where they are in the therapy. This is a very legitimate reason and I have often informally shared information from specific parts of a record at the client's request. I also recall an instance where a client requested access to their hospital records (not my records) because they believed that some information had been interpreted incorrectly and in fact they were right-it was due to a language barrier between them and the doctor-and the client wrote a response that was entered into the record to correct the misinterpretation.
If you are looking to obtain a copy in order to take it with you to a new provider, it is much simpler to sign a release of information so that your provider can send the relevant or requested info directly to the new provider. This is done routinely and your provider cannot release the info without your permission.
You have rights to all of your records. Technically, they belong to you. You have to ask, and they will most likely charge you a fee for copies, but by right, they are yours.
I don't know about a web site but I know with any medical records all you do is go to the place that you receive treatment from and request copies. They will most likely charge a fee, they all do. If they refuse call a lawyer and you can get one free consultation from most lawyers and ask them what your rights are......good luck.
All you should have to do is ask the doctors office for copies of your records. You will probably have to sign some papers but these records are yours. It is your patient right. And if you are changing doctors, well having copies only makes sense so they know your history better.
Answers: It's a bit different with mental health records-you have a right to review and inspect them, but generally this is done in the presence of a counselor or supervisor in order to explain pieces that might be difficult to understand or that could be disturbing. Generally you will need to make a formal written request that also explains your reasons for wanting access to your records. Further, information contained in the record which references others needs to be blacked out and this is true even in situations where a court order is obtained. Mental health professionals and agencies have the right to withhold portions of a record that they consider could be potentially damaging to a client as a psychiatric record is not written for review by the client. There usually is a procedure if you are denied access to your records which allows the alternative where you can have a designee review your records with a therapist if there is a strong concern that the information in it could be damaging. The laws and statutes governing client access to their records varies by state, so you would need to explore with your provider what their procedures are for this.
Having said all this, I have had clients occasionally request access to their records and that request has never been denied. Generally the reasons why a client has requested access were sound and the common reason is to review progress in order to validate their own perception of where they are in the therapy. This is a very legitimate reason and I have often informally shared information from specific parts of a record at the client's request. I also recall an instance where a client requested access to their hospital records (not my records) because they believed that some information had been interpreted incorrectly and in fact they were right-it was due to a language barrier between them and the doctor-and the client wrote a response that was entered into the record to correct the misinterpretation.
If you are looking to obtain a copy in order to take it with you to a new provider, it is much simpler to sign a release of information so that your provider can send the relevant or requested info directly to the new provider. This is done routinely and your provider cannot release the info without your permission.
You have rights to all of your records. Technically, they belong to you. You have to ask, and they will most likely charge you a fee for copies, but by right, they are yours.
I don't know about a web site but I know with any medical records all you do is go to the place that you receive treatment from and request copies. They will most likely charge a fee, they all do. If they refuse call a lawyer and you can get one free consultation from most lawyers and ask them what your rights are......good luck.
All you should have to do is ask the doctors office for copies of your records. You will probably have to sign some papers but these records are yours. It is your patient right. And if you are changing doctors, well having copies only makes sense so they know your history better.
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