Each time you visit a physician, or other health care provider, a record
of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms,
examination and test results, diagnosis, treatment, and a plan for future
care or treatment. This information, often referred to as your health
or medical record, is used in a number of ways, including:
- A basis for planning your care and treatment
- A means of communication among the health professionals who contribute to your care
- A legal document describing the care you received
- A means by which you or a third-party payer can verify that services billed were actually provided.
- A tool in educating health professionals
- A source of information for public health officials charged with improving the health of the nation
- A source of data for facility planning
- A tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render and the outcomes we achieve
Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to:
- Ensure its accuracy.
- Better understand
who, what, when, where, and why others may access your health
information. - Make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others.