How To Access Your Medical Records in Maryland

You will need all of your key medical records if you want to pursue a medical malpractice claim in Maryland. Medical records are valuable evidence of your medical condition, your treatment, and any changes you experienced over time. While the process to obtain your medical records can sometimes be arduous, there are ways you can speed things up and access the records you need without spending a fortune.

How to Get Quicker Access to Your Medical Records

Under Federal Law, as the patient, you can request your own electronic records via a HITECH letter, which can help speed up the process and limit costs. This usually costs about $6.50 and records should be produced within 30 days of the recipient receiving the request.

Our attorneys have more than 30 years of experience handling complex medical malpractice claims throughout Maryland. In our years of practice, we have observed that taking the following steps can expedite your request for Maryland medical records:

• Make sure your request is free of errors, such as misspelling vital information or forgetting to list each type of record you need.
• Be specific when you list what you need. If the case involves a surgery or a stay in a hospital you should get the entire inpatient record and the Emergency Department record if you started there.
• Ensure your request is sent to the correct location and department. If it ends up with the wrong people, it may get lost or ignored.
• Follow up with the provider to make sure they received and understand the request.

If these steps fail, attorney intervention or guidance may be necessary.

Note that records pertaining to minors must be maintained until the patient turns 21 or five years after the record is made, whichever is later.

You May Not Receive Your Medical Records Right Away

Many healthcare facilities still do not consider medical records requests a priority. When providers violate state or federal records requirements, patients are sometimes forced to rely on attorneys to demand access to their own medical data.

Can a Lawyer Access Medical Records for a Client?

Can a lawyer access or request medical records for a client? Yes, if you have given them permission in a signed and dated written statement. Your attorney may issue their request via mail, fax, or online submission, depending on the provider but the facilities can charge more for these requests.  There are efforts to change this.  At Bertram & Murphy our lead attorney and some of our staff have previously worked as defense attorneys and Ms. Bertram worked in a hospital setting, so we know what things look like and what we need to look for on both sides of a case.

Contact Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today

The medical malpractice lawyers of Bertram & Murphy have served injury victims throughout Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland for decades. Our team knows what it takes to establish a strong medical malpractice claim, and we won’t back down when it’s time to demand your medical records or the compensation you deserve. Our medical records lawyers can step in as your personal advocates to communicate with medical providers and retrieve the records you need.

When you contact us, if we decide to review your potential case, we will provide an honest and thorough case evaluation. We have access to trusted medical experts who can provide professional opinions about the strength and potential value of your claim. We do not charge any legal fees until we recover compensation for your medical malpractice claim. Call us today to get started on your claim.