Your medical record is an important component of your lifetime of medical treatment. One inaccuracy—not listing an allergy to a particular medication, for example—could prove fatal. Therefore, another key to a long, healthy life is making sure you know what’s in your record and that the information is accurate.

Information in your medical records belongs to you, although the original records stay with the provider. You are entitled to look at your records and have them explained to you at any time. Twenty-six states have actual laws that allow you access to copies of your records. But even in states that do not have laws, medical providers must allow you to see your record and to have copies of it. (Of course, there may be a copying charge.)

If your doctor, hospital, or other medical entity refuses to give you a copy of your record, file a complaint with your state attorney general’s office.

To make sure the medical information in your record is accurate, follow these tips.

· Get copies of your records from your health care providers.
Check them carefully to assure they are accurate. If they aren’t, talk to the doctor or facility who created the record and have him justify any entry you question.

If you have ever applied for life insurance and taken a physical exam, it’s likely that information about your health is stored with the Medical information Bureau (MIB), a repository of information for the insurance industry. Wrong information in this file could mean being turned down for future coverage. Call the MIB at 617-426-3660 to find out how to get the information in your files and how to correct any inaccuracies.

· Track your own medical history.

In today’s world, where you might see scores of doctors over a lifetime, be admitted to numerous hospitals or outpatient facilities, and use many medications, keeping your own medical record is a great way to make sure all the important information is one place. Use your record, too, to double-check the records kept by others.