Sleep Study Report Obtained???

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:23 pm

Well I have been waiting for almost a month for my sleep study report. Reading on the forum it has been stated that there should be several pages of report and then a 1 or 2 page summary. I was able to obtain the summary from my referring doctor that is a little over 1 page long.

I decided about a month ago to request a FULL copy of both nights study -- initial and follow-up studies.

I sent a letter to the doctor which sent it back stating I had to request it from the hospital as the hospital is the one that "owned" the records. I sent them a letter and after a week or so they sent me a HIPPA form to fill out and mail back. I filled it out and sent it back the same day. On it I requested ALL of the reports including graphs and charts and any other pertinent data that was in my file.

Imagine my disappoint when I opened the mail today and all that was included was the releases I signed when registering for the studies and the exact same report I received from my GP. It is just a little of over 1 page summary that tells me the exact same information.

I was in hopes that I could have my GP look it over and see if she thinks I have any secondary problems in addition to the sleep apnea as she is thinking I have RLS as well.

What a bummer!! Any suggestions?? How should I handle this?? What other avenues do I have?

Thanks.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:37 pm

Hi Carol.

Take a deep breath.....and then read this.....it'll cheer you up.

viewtopic.php?t=16177

Been there, done that. Took awhile to get the right one, but they finally came through. Maybe they will for you, too. Keep after 'em.

Best wishes,

Den

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:50 pm

I am going to try again. I thank you for your encouragement -- especially when it is so frustrating dealing with these people.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:12 pm

Carol,
Have you tried your DME to see what info they have? You may have to sign a release form but they should be able to get that on the spot for you.

Meanwhile, I would research the state statutes regarding release of medical records, make notes, and commit to memory just what you are entitled to. Get a contact number at the state to ask questions also so you know what the next step is.

I know from helping my dad that CT permits up to 30 days for the doc or agency to provide records to the patient and complaints are handled by the Dept. of Public Health, the licensing agency. In fact, the CT DPH has a website where you can look up your doc (or anyone else with a state license) to see if they have ever had any warnings or complaints, including outcome & fines.

I know at least one of my dads docs here who feels that ONLY another doc is entitled to make a request. But that is not the way it works.

I requested my sleep study & prescriptions at my 1st follow-up but had no idea there was a data summary, so I will be making another request soon.

If your DME is friendly, that may be the quickest way. I just am not sure if the DME would have the data summary.

Good Luck,
GumbyCT

justplainbill · Post by **justplainbill** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:50 pm

Just brainstorming.

You could ask your PCP to get the report (the sleep lab might be more forthcoming with the PCP than with you).

I assume that your HIPAA forms and written request were specific as to the information that you were requesting. You might gather those up, along with your two identical summaries and trot down to the hospital's records office and point out that what you requested was not what you received.

It may be, however, that while the records may "belong" to the hospital that the sleep lab might be the only place with the reports that you are looking for. If so, I would ask the hospital records people to contact the sleep lab to have them send you the reports, or better yet, to prepare copies of those reports while you go to the sleep lab.

If the hospital refuses to assist you, I would if the hospital has omsbudsman or patient advocate and I would ask to speak with that person. Not every hospital may have such a person but where they exist they may be the best way to assure that hospital administration is aware of your particular problem.

And then I would go over to the sleep lab, find the doctor's secretary and explain that you did not receive what you requested, that the hospital was not able to help you and could they please make you a copy.

I would add that HIPAA allows medical providers to charge you a fee for making coppies of your records although many will not do this unless you ask for a lot or they are having trouble making ends meet or (heaven forbid) feel like giving you a hard time.

Keep us posted on how you make out.

Best wishes,
Bill

Snoozy Q · Post by **Snoozy Q** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:50 pm

The suggestion to have your PCP request the study sounds like a good one. I'm thinking that even if your request correctly pointed out exactly what you wanted, that whoever is bundling up the report to send it out probably never got a patient request for the full report before, so assumed that you wanted just the summary. You may have to go back and explain again (and again) what you want before they get it right.

Maybe if your dr. requests it, he or she will be more likely to get the full report more quickly than you will.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:12 am

I think I will contact my primary doctor and see what they can do about getting the report.

Our sleep lab is part of the hospital and was told by the doctor's staff that didn't have any of the records that they were kept by the hospital.

What is even better the report sent to me orginated in Georgia so maybe the hospital doesn't even keep its own records? I am in Missouri.

Your probably right that they may never have had anyone request a full copy of the report as our sleep lab hasn't been in existence long.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:15 am

I would think it unlikely that your local hospital sends out their transcripton so am thinking that they may outsource the data reading for interpretation and dictation of results (in other words send the data to outside doctors for interpretation). Maybe they outsourced the scoring and the interpretation or maybe just the scoring. Hard to say. Curiosity killed the cat. I'd ask.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 3:50 pm

The envelope states SDS, Alpharetta Georgia.

There is a sleep doctor affliated with the sleep lab and I know he charged me around a $1000 for reading the data, etc. Never had an appointment with him, saw him, or anything.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 5:38 pm

What a crock!!! I actually got to see and meet w/my sleep lab's doctor. And he does NOT bill that much!! Not anywhere near that much even for the initial consult. And I can make an appointment to SEE THE SLEEP LAB DOCTOR anytime I need to altho the doctors are only at this sleep lab one day a week. The doctor doesn't do the scoring, but they do do the interpretation and dictating. Everything is done in-lab: scoring, interpretation and dictation, transcription. Except equipment, they send the equipment order to a DME of your choice. And will provide you w/an equipment order to buy online if you prefer.

Our local hospital's sleep lab USED TO BE that way. Now they contract w/some pulmonologists and at least one neurologist. But you never meet them. They just interpret the scoring, dictate the results and the hospital provides the transcription and send it to the referring doctor. They are available TO THE REFERRING DOCTOR for consultation. Big hair ape deal!

They've done the same w/radiology. No more radiologists on staff. They contract w/some radiologist group and that group provides the radiologists as needed. There are always radiologists at the hospital but they aren't staff radiologists. Again - how unimpressive. You can't schedule a procedure w/a particular radiologist anymore, not even your doctor can, you get whoever is there on the day. Whoopee.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 5:47 pm

I am glad I have this forum for support. I think that is why so many fail at treatment is because they have NO support. Usually one does not know or understand all there is to know about the subject, families want to support us but they don't have a clue and it is near IMPOSSIBLE to get straight answers from the labs, doctors, DME's etc for the most part. There are SOME good ones out there and I am glad they come to this forum to help us out. It is just a shame there aren't more of them!!

I probably would have given up if not for the support of everyone here!!

I do believe in time it will get better -- sleep disorders have been around for as long as there has been man!! Yet, it has only been in the last few years that doctors started recognizing the connections between health and sleep.

Yea for those that are proactive on this subject!!

Sundown · Post by **Sundown** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:59 pm

I am a new user and the doctor NEVER even told me what the results of my 2 night study.. just that I had Sleep Apnea and RLS. The medical supply company then sent a lady over.. she set the machine up... and handed me the case and told me to "sign here." I don't even know if I own the machine!!! All I know is that I have NOT received a copy of anything...even after requesting.