Understanding your health record/information
Each time you visit a hospital, physician, or other healthcare provider, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination, test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment. This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, provides a basis for planning your care and treatment, and serves as a means of communication among the various health professionals who continue to contribute to your care. Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to ensure its accuracy, better understand who what, when, where, and why others may access your health information, and make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others.