A patient release form is a document that allows your medical practice to share information about a patient with other healthcare providers. This form can be extremely helpful in situations where you need to consult with another provider about a patient’s care.
Here are 6 reasons why you should have a patient release form for your medical practice:
1) An Emergency Situation
In emergencies, time is of the essence. A patient can come into a hospital without any personal identity information. In this case, a patient release form can help to ensure that you get accurate, up-to-date information about the patient’s medical history and condition from their primary care provider. This will be essential for determining the course of treatment.
2) You Are Transferring a Patient
In some cases, you may need to transfer a patient from one hospital to another for more advanced care. In this case, your office can request the patient’s medical records from their previous provider or emergency department using a HIPAA-compliant patient release form.
3) Your Patient Has Been Admitted to the Hospital
If you need access to a patient’s medical records to determine the course of treatment, or whether another hospital admitted the person, can impact your ability to access those records. If the person is an inpatient at another facility, you will be able to use the patient release form that they already have on file. However, if the person is an outpatient, you will need to obtain a HIPAA authorization form plus the release form so the attending physician can share information with you.
4) Your Patient Is Being Seen by Another Provider
If your patient sees another provider without your knowledge or consent, this could create a host of problems. In this case, a HIPAA-compliant patient release form will allow the other doctor to share all relevant medical information so that you can address any concerns or questions that may arise during treatment.
5) You Need Access to Past Records
In many cases, your patient’s records from his previous visits are not available to you. This could be because their insurance has changed or because a different doctor is now treating the person. In both cases, having a HIPAA-compliant patient release form on file will allow you to obtain those records quickly and efficiently without any undue burden to your staff or your patient.
6) You Need to Obtain Additional Records
During your care for a patient, you may need access to additional records. For example, if another hospital admits that patient for surgery and you are not on staff there, you will want to request their medical records immediately so that you can provide follow-up care or supervision.
Conclusion:
One of the most important aspects of running a successful medical practice is keeping your patients safe. A patient release form, which includes an authorization to obtain records from other providers and hospitals, can help you do that by providing access to vital information without violating HIPAA regulations.
If you want to provide your patients with the best care possible, you must understand the ways HIPAA regulations can affect your operations.
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