How do you get medical records...

[PamE]

from a doctor who is no longer practicing? Ds1 was seen by a behavioral specialist (psychologist?) several years ago and now he's no longer even in the phone book. I'd like to get his records but have no clue how to go about doing it, or if it's a lost cause.

Ds's IEP meeting is on October 14th and the re-evaluation by the school psych. is in progress, so we'll have that information as well. It's been rather strange because both dh and I have had memories of ds's birth surface in the past few weeks. Dh remembers that ds needed oxygen at birth (they actually bagged him, not just masked) and I can remember my LD nurse standing between me and ds's team of doctors, not letting me see him and what they were doing to him. He also had an area on the top of his head that was swollen and it affected the movement of his arm for about two weeks after birth. It's been rather disconcerting to remember this after so many years, wondering how much these things have to do with his situation now. :\

I am so not looking forward to this IEP meeting. I've wanted answers for so long, and still do, but more and more I wonder how I'll handle the answers we'll get.

[Beth/TX]

I would first ask the school psychologist if he/she would be able to assist you in obtaining your son's records.

If he/she isn't able to help, you could try to find him by doing a search via a physician locator service. There are many free ones on the internet. The AMA's site offers a doctor finder:
http://dbapps.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm

If that doesn't work, maybe check the local hospital(s) where he may have practiced. They may be able to give you forwarding information. At the very least, maybe someone in the hospital (perhaps Medical Staff office) can give you suggestions for finding him.

Hopefully he wasn't seen by this doctor too long ago. Doctor's offices aren't required to keep records past so many years (varies from 5-10 yrs I think).

Good Luck!

[Melody]

I remember when a doctor I had moved to the States and she told me to go to a medical building downtown if I wanted the records after she left if I didn't take them now. Maybe there is an office building that stores all these where you are? Good luck with it all.

[SpeechMom]

Pam -

Don't walk into that IEP meeting without seeing your son's IEPs first. That way you'll have a chance to process the information and formulate questions. It's your decision if you accept the IEPs as written or want to make changes - that's what the meeting is for - not so you can be told what's going to be done.

[PamE]

Yesterday the psychologist said that she had ds's records from that doctor! Duuuhhhh.... so does his regular pediatrician. :rolleyes: My brain is slowly shriveling... I knew that! Thank you for the advice, though.


Pam -

Don't walk into that IEP meeting without seeing your son's IEPs first. That way you'll have a chance to process the information and formulate questions. It's your decision if you accept the IEPs as written or want to make changes - that's what the meeting is for - not so you can be told what's going to be done.

Thanks for the heads-up... I'll see what I can do before hand.