Health Information Management | Obtain Medical Records

How to Obtain Medical Records

The information contained in a patient’s medical record is confidential. It is a legal requirement that Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center receive specific authorization before releasing this information. Authorization may be granted by completing an “Authorization For Use and / or Disclosure of Protected Health Information” form. These forms are available through Health Information Management.

Beginning Monday, March 9, 2020, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center will destroy medical records whose retention periods have expired. These include medical records of patients who have not been seen for care since 1989.

A patient or patient’s legal representative may request copies of the medical record prior to destruction. Requests to do so must be submitted using the “Authorization for Use/Disclosure of Protected Health Information” form located below in the "Download a Form" section and received no later than Monday, February 10, 2020.

Direct your requests to:

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Health Information Management
MLC 5015
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229

Contact Us

If you have questions or would like help from the Health Information Management Department at Cincinnati Children’s, call 513-636-4217 or 513-636-8233.

Utilize the sections below for further information, forms and instructions:

Request Process

Requests for X-ray, MRI, nuclear medicine or other films should be given to the Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, 513-636-4251, option 4.
Requests for billing statement copies should be directed to Patient Financial Services at 513-636-4427, unless medical record copies are also required. In this case, the request should be directed to Health Information Management for initial processing; it will be forwarded to the Patient Financial Services area for completion.
Requests for copies of a medical record should be directed to Health Information Management. Authorization forms may be submitted in person, by mail or by fax: 513-636-6729.

Download a Form

To get medical records, print the form you need and mail it to:

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Health Information Management
MLC 5015
3333 Burnet Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45229

There may be times when you are not available to bring your child for medical care. You can fill out a “Permission to Authorize Consent for Treatment” form to allow another individual that you name to give legal consent for medical care and procedures. You must have this form notarized, and it expires one year from the date you sign.

Attention, Parents
If your child is 18 years of age or older, it is REQUIRED by law that he or she sign an “Authorization for Use and / or Disclosure of Protected Health Information” form allowing release of the medical record, including to release the record to you.

Tips for Requesting Copies of Medical Records

Requests for all information (progress notes, consent forms, registration sheets, etc.) can delay processing and become very costly. If you need help deciding what to request, a patient information coordinator will assist you. Call 513-636-8233.

If you are requesting information for continuing patient care, the caregiver receiving the information usually wants only an overview of the important information. (This usually meets the need for individual use as well.)

A patient / physician abstract contains:

Discharge summary − The care, treatment and services provided as well as progress toward established goals of an inpatient stay
Emergency record − The care, treatment and services provided for a visit to the emergency room
History and physical − The present illness or care needs and notes about any important history
Operative report(s) − The surgeon’s findings, technical procedures used, specimens removed and post-operative diagnosis
Consultation report − The findings of a physician requested to examine a patient
X-ray reports, labs or other tests
Clinic notes − Include the initial assessment and the most recent visit documentation

Fee Structure for Medical Record Copies

There is a charge for medical record copies. Requestors will be sent a prepayment invoice upon determination of total cost. Note: This charge is waived for records sent directly to continuing caregivers.

ITEM	FEE
Paper Copies	$0.53/page
CD	$0.52/page
Shipping/Handling	Actual cost (waived if records are picked up)
Sales Tax	Actual cost (based on requestor's state)
Fees are reviewed on an annual basis and are based on the State of Ohio Sub. HB 331.

Payment for Medical Record Copies

All checks must be made payable to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Payment may also be made using Visa or MasterCard by calling 513-636-4217.

Note that copies of medical records from other facilities may not be re-released by Cincinnati Children’s. They must be requested from the originating facility.