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Bethesda Hospital East & West: Medical Records

Release of Information

The information provided is intended as an educational document for our customers. Please note that there may be certain circumstances, laws and regulations that may limit or restrict release of the patient’s medical record.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, by Florida Law (Florida Statute 395.3025) you or your legal representative has the right to a copy of your medical record. The original medical record is owned by the hospital, but you have access to your medical record for viewing or to obtain copies with proper HIPAA compliant authorization.

  • We keep your medical records for 10 years.

  • You can download the Authorization for Release of Medical Information (ROI) form here, or you can request a form from the hospital Health Information Management (HIM) Department. Completed forms may be returned to the hospital HIM Department for processing via email, fax or mail. In order to verify your identification and validate your authorization, we require that you include a legible copy of a valid photo ID (i.e. driver’s license, military ID or state ID) and telephone number. An authorization becomes invalid if the form is incomplete or contains false core elements. You may contact us at:

     

    Bethesda Hospital East
    Health Information Management Department
    2815 S Seacrest Blvd.
    Boynton Beach, FL 33435
    Telephone: (561)-737-7733, extension 84271
    Fax: (561)-738-5950
    Office Hours: 8:30am-4:00pm, Monday - Friday
    Contact Email: DG-BTROIWebsite@baptisthealth.net

    		 Bethesda Hospital West
    Health Information Management Department 
    9655 W Boynton Beach Blvd.
    Boynton Beach, FL 33472
    Telephone: (561)-336-7000, extension 70790
    Fax: (561)-336-7290
    Office Hours: 8:30am-4:00pm, Monday - Friday
    Contact Email: DG-BTROIWebsite@baptisthealth.net

  • Any of the following people can sign the form:

    • Patient (18 years of age or older)
    • Medical Power of Attorney (must state it includes medical information)
    • Legal Representative- Guardian
    • Legal next of kin for deceased patient 

  • No, Hospice and Radiation Oncology maintain their own medical records. You may request these directly at:

  • Per Florida statute, we may charge $1 per page plus postage (if mailed) to copy records for your own personal use. We will contact you in advance if there is a fee for copying your records.

  • The medical records may be mailed to you or picked up at the hospital HIM Department. Only the designated person on the ROI Authorization form will be authorized to pick up the records, and proof of identification is required.

  • It generally takes 5-10 business days to fulfill your medical record request.

     

  • Yes, we can do this at no charge if you indicate this information on the ROI Authorization form. However if your Physician is on our staff, the physician has access to our Electronic Medical Record.

  • No, the office of vital statistics maintains the patients’ original birth certificate and death certificate. Please contact the office of vital statistics:

    The Office of Vital Statistics
    Palm Beach County Health Department
    Office of Vital Statistics – 1st Floor
    800 Clematis Street
    West Palm Beach, FL 33401
    Telephone: 561-837-5847
    http://www.pbchd.com/vitals/birthdeathloc.html