New Rule Allows Patients Direct Access to Lab Results

[GoLeft TV]

A new rule announced by the Obama administration on Monday will allow patients to access their lab results without have to go through their doctors. The rule is part of a broader effort on the part of the administration to give patients more control of their health care.

“This new rule is part of a broader shift toward patient control over health information,” commented Bill Cash, an attorney with the Levin, Papantonio law firm who practices in the areas of personal injury and bad drug litigation. “The era where only the doctor was allowed to know anything or have an opinion is ending.”

You can read the full article here at Ring of Fire.

[Laffy Kat]

1. I'm really glad to hear this.

The only labs I'm ever concerned about are the ones the doc doesn't want the patient to see until s/he talks to pt. first, which may take days. Sometimes even critical values fall through the cracks. This is good.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. All I do is call doc's office and they mail it to me

Takes 2 days to get it.
Lab is in another city, calling them takes longer.

There was some resistance at first when I started asking for my reports, but all you have do around here is mention "hurricane safety"
and they understand.

[Warpy]

3. Yes!! Finally!

My rheumatologist is good about mailing the results to me so I can keep track of what's going on but other docs have been piss poor.

[PotatoChip]

4. I've always been able to get mine

through the hospital where both the Lab work (ie CBC or whatever) and Lab analysis/findings are done.

Just had to sign a release of info form.