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Research ArticleRegular Articles

Outpatient Psychiatrists' Practices for Requesting Prior Treatment Records

Patricia R. Recupero and Samara E. Harms
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online December 2015, 43 (4) 444-450;
Patricia R. Recupero
Dr. Recupero is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and President and CEO, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI. Ms. Harms is an independent research consultant, Danbury, CT.
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Samara E. Harms
Dr. Recupero is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and President and CEO, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI. Ms. Harms is an independent research consultant, Danbury, CT.
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Abstract

Patients' treatment records often contain information critical to risk assessment. We sought to determine whether psychiatrists treating outpatients agree about the standard of care (SOC) for requesting records from a patient's past clinicians. This web-based survey invited psychiatrists to review a hypothetical outpatient clinical vignette and to indicate whether they would request a release of information (ROI) from the patient for treatment records from past clinicians. Respondents also described the community SOC for similar scenarios and what they would do if a patient refused the ROI. Data were collected from June 15 through June 19, 2012. Most psychiatrists would try to obtain treatment records from any therapist, psychiatrist, or primary care physician seen by the patient within the past year. Some would require the patient's consent to ROI as a prerequisite to treatment. Few respondents felt that obtaining records from several years ago would be necessary in a typical, moderate-risk outpatient case. In an average outpatient scenario, the SOC would be to request treatment records from the past year. Psychiatrists rely heavily on clinical judgment when determining whether to obtain medical records from other providers.

Footnotes

  • Disclosures of financial or other potential conflicts of interest: None.

  • © 2015 American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
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Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online: 43 (4)
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
Vol. 43, Issue 4
1 Dec 2015
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Outpatient Psychiatrists' Practices for Requesting Prior Treatment Records
Patricia R. Recupero, Samara E. Harms
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Dec 2015, 43 (4) 444-450;

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Outpatient Psychiatrists' Practices for Requesting Prior Treatment Records
Patricia R. Recupero, Samara E. Harms
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Dec 2015, 43 (4) 444-450;
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