When Melissa Snider discovered a new family physician closer to her Denfield, Ont. residence, she was pleased at the idea of avoiding trips to London for medical appointments. However, her relief turned to surprise when her former doctor informed her that transferring her, her husband’s, and their three children’s medical records to a new practitioner would cost $100 per person, totaling $500 for the family of five.
Snider expressed her astonishment at the $500 transfer fee, considering that her children are all under nine years old and generally healthy, requiring only vaccine records. She mentioned that in the past, she had paid approximately $35 for the same service. Seeking advice, she reached out to a moms’ Facebook group, where she received varied responses, with some reporting free transfers by their doctors and others mentioning different fees.
The process of fulfilling a request for medical records involves tasks such as locating, reviewing, preparing, and securely transferring the materials, as outlined by Laura Zilke, a spokesperson for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The Ontario Medical Association suggests a $30 fee for electronic transfers, with additional charges for extra pages based on a structured fee guideline.
Dr. Jobin Varughese, president of the Ontario College of Family Physicians, criticized the current fragmented system of transferring records between clinics, highlighting the time-consuming manual processes it entails. He emphasized the need for a streamlined and centralized system to eliminate patient charges and allow physicians to focus on patient care rather than administrative tasks.
Varughese expressed optimism about the upcoming implementation of the Primary Care Electronic Medical Record in Ontario, which aims to integrate patient records into a unified system, enhancing healthcare coordination and reducing costs associated with record transfers and redundant medical procedures. This initiative is expected to benefit patients by providing a comprehensive health history accessible to healthcare providers, ultimately improving the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.
Snider, meanwhile, plans to provide her new doctor with verbal medical histories instead of paying the substantial transfer fees.