Releasing Medical Records

[free_spirit_etc]

I am signing release forms to release my husband's medical records to the VA. Does anyone know if I should attach the letter that shows I am executor of his Estate to the forms. Or will the hospital release them on the signature of the next of kin?

Free

[free_spirit_etc]

Also - if the only place a doctor treated you was in the hospital - would they also have notes at their office - or would all their notes be in your hospital records?

Free

I am signing release forms to release my husband's medical records to the VA. Does anyone know if I should attach the letter that shows I am executor of his Estate to the forms. Or will the hospital release them on the signature of the next of kin?

Free

[Ricky]

Signature of next of kin should do it as long as you are listed so in the VA medical world. However, to save time and avoid any problems I would go ahead and send a copy of the executor status - you know the VA they can be picky at times.

If all treatment was received at a VAMC the eventually all records end up in one place and that being the veterans medical record file. If the doc was working for the VA and treatment was received in a VAMC all records should be in one place.

[free_spirit_etc]

Thanks.

He was treated at a private hospital.

Free

Signature of next of kin should do it as long as you are listed so in the VA medical world. However, to save time and avoid any problems I would go ahead and send a copy of the executor status - you know the VA they can be picky at times.

If all treatment was received at a VAMC the eventually all records end up in one place and that being the veterans medical record file. If the doc was working for the VA and treatment was received in a VAMC all records should be in one place.

[Stretch]

I got my private doctor records, and emergency medical records, from Kaiser Permanente Hospital in California. I had to go to the FOIA of Kaiser records. I sent the FOIA via fax. They sent my entire records from 80's through present. These records came in handy.

[Berta]

Good question- in 1995 I had no problems getting my husband's VA med recs.

In 2004 I tracked a former VA neurologist all the way across the country as he had left the VA and was in private practice-

Some of his notations and a conference with Rod and me revealed many years later -he was the only VA docotr who wanted to diagnose Rod with DMII and treat it.

As I mentioned to the RC last year-I proved they killed him-but now I know how the cover up happened. (I dont mince words with the VA)

And this was a documented medicsl cover up of considerable medical malpractice.

The tests this doctor ordered were overruled by the head Neurologist.

(It was difficult at the time to figure out who ran the show-most of the docs (Neuros)acted like they were God-with a heavy foreign accent-

I finally had to ask one of them who was really running the show.

Wouldn't you know it-part of the glucose readings in the blood chem reports I wanted him to opine on -had been cut off on the copies in the 1995 records request.

I could read what it said but this doctor wanted a better copy to assure himself of what it said,since it had been cut off- when copied by VA-

I realised when he got back to me why he wanted this- to assure that the readings were all done at about 7 AM and he was also aware that Rod was on a feeding tube during this time as he himself had noted in the med recs that a Oral GTT could not be done-

(The VA "expert" could not tell time- as her report reveals-this record was critical to my claim and she used it)

and she did not even know the veteran could not be administered the OGTT-because by time of these readings his throat had been paralysed for 3-4 weeks already and he was on feeding tube.So much for a thorough review of the med recs)

Well it took me MONTHS to get a better copy of this record-one sole blood chem report-

when the VAMC got the records from the place where they retire records to- then they wanted all my estate verification stuff-

(I just realised that the first denial I got in 2004? -they didnt even have Rods med recs when they denied the claim-the files were still in storage-DUH)

I believe the Records officer deliberately put a stall on this all- I didnt need the legal stuff in 1995-

but this employee was there when I sued this VAMC and she always treats me like crap.

I reported this records records scenario to the OGC and she then sent me a long rendition- an apology of sorts -as to how my request was handled-with the copy I needed.

Still my long point here is- the VA more than likely will want some proof that you are surviving spouse-they may well accept the marriage license and death cert-

but then again they might ask for more legal stuff.

Maybe this info will help someone out there-----

This former VA doctor gave me a brief statement as to the glucose readings on my husband. He remembered the veteran. He also asked me if I needed any more information from him.

The statement was in email.

When I emailed Dr. BAsh the first time- asking him to opine on my claim-I rattled off what I had found in the med recs. He emailed it sounded good and then called me and then I told him about the doctor's email-

he was thrilled and called the doctor and got this put on the former VA doctors letterhead and incorporated it into his IMO.

Former VA doctors who treated you - can be found and they -once out of the auspices of the VA- and in private practice might well be able to help you with an IMO on your claim.

What I got was a freeby and it was brief.

This doctor was the only VA doctor who ever came close to giving Rod the proper diagnosis.

It took time to find him and then wonder if he would even respond to me but he did right away and his statement was dynamite.

My claims are still with a rater and this time I think my 3 IMOS will actually be read.

Edited June 13, 2007 by Berta