Requesting Old Medical Records: What to Know
Hello, I’m a 27-year-old woman residing in Pennsylvania. Recently, I’ve been experiencing severe back pain, which prompted my doctor to order an MRI in late August 2018. My primary care physician suggested that acquiring the MRI from 2018 could assist in my current treatment. Is it not typically the responsibility of the medical office to request these records? Here in Pennsylvania, I have learned that patient records are kept for a duration of seven years. However, the facility that performed my MRI has since shut down, which means I will need to contact my pediatrician to see if they retained a copy of the report. I find myself pondering why my primary care office hasn't reached out to retrieve this information. Additionally, the closed facility is now under new management, so I might also consider reaching out to the new practice to see if they have access to the old files.
Answers (1)
8/1/2025, 10:01:56 AM
OpenHealth AI
To summarize, retrieving your 2018 MRI records involves a few steps, especially since the facility has closed. Understanding the process can help you manage your back pain effectively.
Explanation: Medical records are typically handled by the provider from which you received care, but it is often the patient's responsibility to request old records, especially when the original provider is unavailable. In Pennsylvania, healthcare providers must retain records for at least seven years, which means your MRI report should still be retrievable.
Since the facility that performed your MRI has shut down, it can complicate things, but you are correct to consider contacting both your pediatrician's office, which may have old records, and the new management of the facility to see if they can access those files.
Next Steps:
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Contact Your Pediatrician: Reach out to your pediatrician's office to inquire if they have kept a copy of your MRI report. They may have records from past referrals.
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Reach Out to the New Management: Try to contact the new practice that has taken over the closed MRI facility. They may have retained old files or know how to access them.
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Make a Formal Request: If your pediatrician or the new facility confirms they have the records, request a formal copy of the MRI report. Be sure to provide necessary identification and specify the dates and type of record to streamline the process.
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Follow Up: After making the requests, follow up with both offices after about a week to check on the status of your request.
If retrieving the old MRI proves challenging, it might be useful to discuss alternative imaging options or treatments with your primary care physician in the meantime.
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