Original Records or Copies: What to Provide

In Part III of our series, Patient Records Requests: What You Need to Know, we ask attorney Richard J. Rymond of Reminger Co., LPA whether it is better to provide the original records or copies of them. As Richard explains, copies are always recommended, as it is important for the physician to retain control over the records. If the original records are given, then the records could be inadvertently altered or misplaced.

Richard also goes on to explain the importance of providing a complete copy of the patient records, including any details such as color coding. Color coding can be found in both handwritten charts and electronic records, so physicians will need to be prepared to produce colored copies, whichever type of record they use.

View Part III of the series below. Or, watch the entire interview from the beginning here.