Yesterday I went to the hospital I delivered my sons at to retrieve my medical records. I had looked online in advance to see what that required. Based on the hospital's website, all I would need is a photo I.D. and to print and fill out a consent form. Indeed, I came prepared with my consent form and I.D. in hand while alternately dragging my beloved toddler behind me because he wanted to "dead weight" as soon as we turned the corner.
I walk in the small office and immediately notice that the desk has two FULL clipboards of consent forms readily available. O.K. Kind of peeved that I had to spend 30 cents to print off my copies but, that's fine. I'll know next time if I need to do it again. Then the secretary comes from around an unseen corner behind the desk asks if she could help me. I hand her the paper with my information on it and tell her I would like my medical records. She asks me what I want them for and I said personal. "Yea, but what will you use them for?" I guess she asks me this because there's a whole different process for transfer of care. I don't know, so I tell her the truth.
I want them because there are still unanswered questions pertaining to the pregnancy and births of my two sons. I tell her I need those files before I can seriously consider having another child. If there is any hint that a c-section is my only option, Mikah will be an only child. I know that any pregnancy can result in a c-section but without the option to VBA2C then the cons are far too great.
After relaying some of this to her she starts asking me the dates I want. She clicks around for a little bit, gets ready to print, and then tells me it'll be $45 and some change.... WHAT?! "Forty-five dollars? For what?" I can't believe it. I was so close to closure, to being informed. That's more than my phone bill! She tells me, "The forty-five dollars is to get your medical records." So I ask her, "Uh, why do I have to pay that just to get MY medical records? I don't understand. It didn't say that on the website." She sighs and rolls her eyes a little and says, "Yes ma'am, I know. We're trying to fix it. Everyone says that, but you have to pay it if you want your medical records because their not actually yours, they're (name of the hospital)."
My jaw dropped. This is preposterous. Last I checked, they were mine. She asks me if I still want them and I sarcastically tell her that I won't be buying my medical records unless I can get them for free or at a discount. Obviously that didn't happen or I wouldn't have typed this blog post, or, at least not like this. Good new is, though, that I can get it through my doctor for a flat fee of $18. Hmm, I really hate the idea of it not being mine but I guess I can understand because that's a lot of paper and ink. I do have half a mind to call and ask how much they'd charge me if I brought my own paper.
Seriously though. Why do they make it so hard for their patients to be and stay informed of their own health. How many other people have gone through this I wonder? $45 may not seem like a lot but it is to me and my household. To me, it's $45 to heal.
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