What’s in it

Having your health record makes it easier to:

• Share important health information with family members, a new doctor or other health care provider, or a medical emergency team
• Coordinate health care with different providers, clinics, and hospitals
• Make sure your information is up to date and correct
• Avoid repeating tests and procedures you’ve already had
• Share health information, like immunization records, with schools, camps, and others

What am I asking for?

Health records can sometimes be hundreds of pages long, so knowing which part of the record you want can be important. If you’re not sure, ask for help at your provider’s office.

• Full record: If you are switching to a new primary care doctor, you’ll want to get a copy of your full record to give to them. You may also want a copy for your own use.
• Partial record: If you want to share specific health information with new providers or others, you may only need a partial record. For example:
  • Allergies
  • Medications
  • Records of immunizations
  • Provider’s notes from a single visit
  • Test results or X-rays

How many copies do I need?

If your health record is not available electronically, or you or your health care provider prefers a paper copy, you’ll need to determine how many copies you need.

• Personal use: If you want a copy for your personal use, you may need only 1 copy.
• Care providers: If you’re sharing health information with others, such as your care team, your family, or the person you’ve asked to make health care decisions for you (sometimes called a personal representative), you may need a copy for each person or office. It may be cheaper to request one copy from your health care provider for yourself and then make copies on your own for others.

What format do I need?

Health records are available in different formats:

• Electronic records, like Microsoft Word documents, PDFs, digital images and other data your computer can read
• Paper records

Who is the health record for? Request a format that works best for the person who will use the information

For yourself: Choose the format that works best for you. Electronic records are convenient to update and to share if you are comfortable with using them on your device. In most cases, they take up less space.

• Structured data (data your computer or smart phone app can read)
• Text file (like a Microsoft Word document)
• PDF
• Paper

For your care team: If you’re sharing your record with a new health care provider, ask what format they prefer. Because of differences in record keeping, each office may prefer a specific format.

How do I want it to get it?

Depending on the format of health record you choose, you have some choices about how it will be delivered to you and your care team. For example:

• Secure email through your health care provider’s health record system, sometimes called a patient portal (for your own use)
• Directly into your provider’s EHR system (for your provider’s use)
• Non-secure email (your personal email)
• CD or USB (thumb) drive
• Health app of your choice
• Fax
• Mail (standard postal service)
• Pick-up at provider’s office