Anyone else had trouble obtaining records from SGF?

[Anonymous]

I have requested my records, in writing, from Shady Grove three times since October to no avail. My last request was submitted in person on Feb. 18th. I am the point where I plan to report them to HHS and the DC OAG for violating HIPPA law. Are there other laws in DC or MD that I can point to? As a first step I plan to send a registered letter giving them 5 business days to produce them and to deliver them to me be overnight mail to my new out of state address before reporting them and securing legal counsel. I've had enough of this BS.

[Anonymous]

I have had trouble getting my records from different doctors offices, including SGF. It is actuallly the company that they outsourced the service than their fault.

I paid a quite a high price for a photocopy of mainly the questionary that you have to fill up for your first visit and then I got several black pages correspoding to the sonogram and the other study to see if your fallopian tubes were open.
Totally useless! No quality control whatsoever.
My DH call our nurse at SGF (we were moving out of country at that moment and we needed the records), explained our situation adn she send us good quality pictures of the studies done.I think he might have mention something about HIPAA rules. We did not have to pay for this photocopies and we got our money back for the record company (it was more than $30) through a complain to our cc company.
Hope this can help you.

[Anonymous]

Good to know but honest, I don't care if it's the outsourced company or SGF's fault. If it's the outsource company's fault SGF needs to know and fix the problem.. I have called and spoke to multiple people who haven't done shit. I'm done playing nice. My nurse at SG was also completely and utterly useless, so calling her will be pointless. I'm sure they could care less now that they won't be making anymore money off me.

Would still like guidance if anyone knows about state laws I can cite.

[Anonymous]

I did not have a problem obtaining records, they were provided on time but the records were useless and cost me over $60. Similar to the PP i received pages and pages of questionnaire, release forms etc. I needed the embryo reports and SG apparently does not do one. I had to speak with my nurse and she printed something from their system which resembled a report but it was not the standard one you see at other clinics.

I would say soemthing is wrong if you have asked for the records in February and have not gotten them by April. This is way too long. I remember i had to pay per page eventhough the records were emailed to me. But i got them within a week or two after I requested them.

[Anonymous]

Oh, yeah. I'm going nuclear on their asses now. I figured I wasn't the only one and this kind of treatment is unacceptable. Now I'm even more concerned because I need surgery reports and clear radiologic images that can be analyzed by a new RE. Assholes. I am SO angry. They only "care" if you are with their practice and making them lots of money.

[Anonymous]

I had no problems. They had a paper I had to sign and fill out. I had to pay a fee per page. They emailed me a PDF of my record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had no problems. They had a paper I had to sign and fill out. I had to pay a fee per page. They emailed me a PDF of my record.

OP here. I've filled out that paper THREE times over the past six months.

[Anonymous]

Have you paid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you paid?

They never asked for payment, and no one ever mentioned it. I really don't think it makes one bit of difference. If I owed them something, they can call. It's not an excuse to flout their responsibilities under HIPPA or to treat former patients like shit.

[Anonymous]

What have they said when you called and asked where your file was? I'm a PP that got my record with no problem. They even knew I was going for a local second opinion.

[Anonymous]

I never did get my records from them. I went to SG in annandale. Would never recommend using them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What have they said when you called and asked where your file was? I'm a PP that got my record with no problem. They even knew I was going for a local second opinion.

They act clueless...oh you have to talk to so and so, who is never in, you have to call this number, gave me a contact at the outsource company who said they never got a request (fucking LIARS), etc etc. Generally unhelpful in every way. You are the only poster here so far who've said they had no problems. It really shouldn't matter if I've moved or am going for a second opinion. They are required by federal law to provide records. They are MY personal health records, and they really have no excuse. I should sue them for mental anguish....God knows they have enough money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never did get my records from them. I went to SG in annandale. Would never recommend using them

OP here. How long did you ask? I will NOT accept this fate. It's outrageous to be treated this way, and I agree - I would never reccomend them to anyone. My nurse sucked, the front desk was unhelpful, and now this.

[Anonymous]

I have asked for my records from SGF on 2 different occasions and never had any trouble. Yes, some of the records weren't quite as clear as I would have liked, but those were the ones I wasn't that worried about. My second request for records was just last month and I got them about 2 weeks after the request was mailed.

In my request, I specifically indicated I wanted embryo reports from the lab and I received them. I've never seen reports from another lab so I don't have anything to compare them to, but they show grading, days, stages etc. I could understand a bit of it with my limited knowledge. They looked like they were screen shots.

OP i am so sorry you've had such a hard time with this. Can you deal with the Rockville office directly? When I've had financial issues, I ask for the manager in the department there and things seem to go more smoothly. I would also bring this up to your doctor too if you haven't already.

[Anonymous]

PP, I've called the Rockville office to no avail. And I am no longer in DC and therefore no longer seeing my doc. My nurse was useless and completely unhelpful. IME it's impossible to reach the docs directly. Never had a direct dial or email for him. What do you suggest?