If a third party requests copies of a resident's medical records, what should the facility do?

If a third party requests copies of a resident's medical records, what should the facility do?

• A. Secure the residents written consent to the release
• B. Provide the requester the records without the residents consent
• C. Arrange for the attending physician to release the records
• D. Ask the facility legal counsel to review and approve the request

Answer: (A)

Respecting patient privacy and requiring written authorization before releasing medical records to a third party is the standard approach. Health information is protected, and a resident must actively authorize disclosure in writing, specifying what records can be shared, with whom, and for what purpose. This ensures the release is intentional and documented, guarding the resident’s rights and the facility from improper disclosure. Providing records without consent would violate privacy rules, and while the attending physician or legal counsel might be involved in complex situations, they’re not substitutes for the resident’s written authorization for a routine third‑party request. If the resident cannot consent, a legally authorized representative would provide the authorization instead.

Respecting patient privacy and requiring written authorization before releasing medical records to a third party is the standard approach. Health information is protected, and a resident must actively authorize disclosure in writing, specifying what records can be shared, with whom, and for what purpose. This ensures the release is intentional and documented, guarding the resident’s rights and the facility from improper disclosure. Providing records without consent would violate privacy rules, and while the attending physician or legal counsel might be involved in complex situations, they’re not substitutes for the resident’s written authorization for a routine third‑party request. If the resident cannot consent, a legally authorized representative would provide the authorization instead.