Medical Records...some Pages Unreadable...some I Can't Deciper

[MDB1968NM]

Hi Everyone,

I want to thank EVERYONE here for their continued service (yes Hadit is most definitely a very valuable service!).....

I just got a copy of my SMRs on Friday.  WOW!  1500+ pages and more than half are double sided.... B)

Two questions:

1)  Some of the copies simply do not show up because in the early records they were printed on "tissue/tracing" paper and will NOT be copied under the copy machine (the person doing them indicated this to me and it just won't work).  What do I do about those documents?

2)  Some of the older records (pre-computer stuff like is out there now) are written in doctor hieroglyphics and chicken scratching where I simply cannot understand what the heck is written.  How can anyone figure out what was said?

I am retiring in June so I have some time to get my things in order...I am glad that I was turned onto this site as I am beginning to learn that I am my own best advocate AND the time to start this process is NOW!

Thanks again for all the help here....you are all extremely kind and knowledgeable!!!

[jbasser]

Try this, put the tisue paper on a dark paper like black, Make copies using darker setting. This may bring the words out.

As for the chicken scratch, blow them up with a copier or scan them into the computer and magnify them.

J

[MDB1968NM]

Jbasser,

Thanks for the tip on the darker paper.  I will have them try it out!

As far as the chicken scratching....I may not have worded that correctly....the writing is fine size wise, but it is indecipherable to me.  Looks like really fast scribbles.  How does anyone understand some of the doctor's handwriting?  It amazes me how anyone could read that....thank God it wasn't some sort of a prescription....could have been prescribed Viagra for a skin condition...LOL!

[carlie]

MDB,

If you happen to have a buddy that's a nurse or in the medical

field - if you can get an idea what the exam was for, then they can ususlly

read through the doctor's scribble enough to make it all out.

carlie

[JamesBreckenridge]

Yes, get a doctor or nurse or tech friend who works with these kinds of records.

The most important thing you're looking for is this: "SOAP". Subjective, Objective, Analysis, Plan. The "A" part is the diagnosis, and it's the most critical. Look for "Analysis" or "Assessment" or "Impression."

When you've looked at a few zillion of these service treatment records, you start to get a feel for what is supposed to be located where, and what the abbreviations and symbols mean.

[jbasser]

I agree with James and CArlie. You can also check into a getting a medical transcriptionist. They would be best suited to help you decipher since they see every kind of scratch known to man.

J

[MDB1968NM]

Thanks everyone...never thought of having a nurse/doctor friend take a look at these!  MUCH APPRECIATED!