What to Request

You’ll Need to Determine

1

WHAT KIND

What kind of information that you want. For example, your entire medical record or just your immunization list.

2

What Format?

What format you want it in (a printable list to share with a family member or machine-readable data to plug into a health app)

3

What Way

What delivery method would you like to receive your records? (email, traditional mail, etc.)

More information is below to help you think through each category and inform your records request.

Categories of Health Data

  • Most recent medication list
  • Allergy List
  • Immunization/vaccination history
  • Clinical summary of your most recent office/hospital visit
  • Clinical summary of another specified office/hospital visit
  • Visit notes that your clinician takes during or after your appointment
  • Entire medical record held by a specific provider
  • Data from multiple office/hospital visits for continuity of care records

Unfortunately, some data, such as X-Rays or lengthy medical histories, can be challenging to access digitally. For that reason, we encourage patients with a particularly complex clinical history to work with their care providers to better understand what is available.

Data Formats

Structured Data¹

View-Only PDFs

Readable Text File

Paper Copy

¹Data I can use in an app (i.e., CDA, CCR, other formats a computer can read and act on)

Delivery Methods

Secure Email

Services like Direct Address have security to protect health information.

Non-secure email

A typical email account, like Gmail or Yahoo. There is a risk in using these accounts. ²

CD-Rom

Data saved on CD-ROMs. Make sure your computer has a disc drive!

USB/Thumb Drive

Some providers offer digital copies on a thumb drive they provide.

Electronic Delivery

Patient portals or other electronic health record management web services.

Postal Service

Paper records can also be mailed if that is your preference.

² You may choose to receive copies of your medical records by non-secure e-mail. There is always a risk that the e-mail may be intercepted and the contents – including your medical records – accessed by an unauthorized person.  You may choose to accept this risk because you prefer the convenience of having records sent to your e-mail, and your doctor or other provider should accommodate your request by law.

Back To Top