Onus put on patient to transfer medical files

REGINA – Last month, controversy arose when a medical centre refused to release patients’ records to doctors who had switched clinics.

“It seems that there was a bit of a business dispute,” said Lori Hutchison Hunter from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.

The ministry wouldn’t elaborate on just exactly what that “business dispute” was, but in June, they had to step in to make sure patients’ files would be transferred to their doctors who had moved from the Midway Walk-in Healthcare Centre located in the Cornwall Centre to the Gateway Alliance Medical Clinic on University Park Drive.

“Patients are entitled to their records and we’ve worked, like I said, with the clinics to ensure that that’s happening and hundreds of records have been transferred to date,” said Hutchison Hunter.

However, patient Jillian Bell didn’t realize she’d be the one doing the transfer.

“Whatever is appearing on the digital files, which is not for whatever reason appearing on the files that are printed out, are not being released,” Bell explained.

When it comes to electronic medical records, the only way her doctor can get access to her complete file is if she picks them up in person and drops them off.  She’ll also have to pay a $45 administration fee. Bell said she’s surprised that in today’s digital age, some sort of central database couldn’t make that process easier – and also ensure doctors have the whole picture of a person’s health history, especially with chronic conditions.

“Ultimately that medical record transfer should just be something that gets done,” Bell said.

There is an Electronic Health Records service, a type of database, in Saskatchewan, but it doesn’t contain all information. eHealth Saskatchewan has discussed the idea of creating a way for a patient to download his or her own medical records on a USB stick and upload it to another physician, but they’re not there yet.

“There is a lot of information that is already available,” said Susan Antosh, eHealth Saskatchewan CEO, “So for instance, if you were to go to a walk-in clinic and that doctor has signed up for her services, they could see your lab results already.”

But until there’s a more complete database, the onus is on the patient to make sure their current doctor is up to speed.