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Medical Records

You have a right to access your medical records and reports. Your privacy is very important to us, and we're here to help you get your medical records.
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Accessing + requesting your medical records

We understand that your medical records are very personal and should be kept confidential. We take this very seriously and follow the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) strictly to ensure that your records are always safe and secure.

Before releasing any documents, you must fill out and sign the Authorization for the Release of Health Information form. This is to make sure that your information is going to the right person. Sometimes, we may also need your physician's approval.

If you ever need to access your medical records, please don't hesitate to make a request. You have the right to access them at any time, and we're here to help. We can provide you with a copy or transfer them to another facility. You can also instantly access recent visit notes and lab and radiology findings in myTuftsMed

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Request online

We’ve made it easy for you to request your medical records through an online portal. Please note that we'll need to verify who you are so you will need to provide a valid email and government-issued ID. 

To get started, choose the location where you saw your doctor (if you need help figuring out which button to choose, please call the officer directly).

Lowell General Hospital

MelroseWakefield Hospital

Tufts Medical Center

Another location (doctor's office) 

 

Is there a fee?

You will not be charged if we send your medical records directly to another healthcare facility or doctor. However, if you want to pick up copies of your records or have them mailed to you, there will be a fee. This fee is set by the state of Massachusetts and can only be paid in cash or by check. Consideration will be given to waive fees for patients in cases of financial hardship.

The Federal Privacy Law (HIPAA) enacted on 4/14/03 requires certain elements to be contained on all authorizations to disclose protected health information (your medical records).

Request by mail or phone

We’re here to help, so if you’re finding it tricky to complete the electronic form, don’t worry! You have 2 options:

  1. Download and complete the paper form instead. And remember, to make sure things run smoothly, please write clearly and complete the entire form. We will send your request back to you if we can’t read or understand it.
  2. Call 858.244.1811 and our team will be happy to help you. 

Records are usually available within 10 days from the time the request is received. If you come in person to collect them, please remember to bring a government-issued ID. If you’d like someone else to pick them up for you, just let us know on the authorization form, and remind them to bring their government-issued ID too.

STAT requests

For urgent (STAT) requests that are needed for medical care within 48 hours, your doctor can request your records by faxing the request to 1.866.920.6415. 

Request as a 3rd party

If you're an attorney, insurance company or healthcare provider requesting medical records for a Tufts Medicine patient, we've made the process easier than ever. Simply upload your request with the patient's authorization online, and we'll take care of the rest. It's fast, secure, and convenient. Select the button where the patient received care:

Lowell General Hospital

MelroseWakefield Hospital

Tufts Medical Center

Another location (doctor's office)

 

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FAQs

What is Sharecare?

Sharecare is the medical records partner of Tufts Medicine. They provide safe and secure transitions so you can receive your medical records or provide them to a 3rd party.  

When will my online medical record request be ready?

Your records will be ready in 3-5 business days from the receipt of your received request. 

How do I check the status of my request?

Go to our online portal or call us at 858.244.1811.

How do I pay for my records and/or radiology images?

You can pay online at https://payonline.hds.sharecare.com/

How do I get in touch with someone for help?
Are my records private and is this safe to use?

Tufts Medicine is committed to protecting your medical information. For information about your rights and the obligations you have regarding the use and disclosure of your medical information, please see our Notice of Privacy Practices

Can a friend or family member collect my medical records?

It’s important to note that only the patient, legal guardian or legal healthcare representative can sign the form to release medical records. If you’re requesting records on behalf of the patient or acting as their representative, please provide a copy of an advance directive, durable power of attorney for healthcare or conservatorship.

 

Medical records on myTuftsMed

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How to download myTuftsMed

Follow these directions to get the myTuftsMed app on your phone:

  • To install the myTuftsMed app, go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for myTuftsMed
  • On your mobile device, open the Apple App Store (if you have an iOS device) or the Google Play Store (if you have an Android device). Look for one of the following icons to find the app store on your device:
  • Search for myTuftsMed
  • Tap Install
  • After install, tap Open or open from the myTuftsMed icon on your device 
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View your records on myTuftsMed

On myTuftsMed patient portal, you can view, download or share your record from 1 day, a date range or even all your visits.

  • After you log in, go to Sharing then Sharing Hub and select Download your record.
  • Select a visit on the Single Visit tab or use the Date Range tab or All Visits tab to select multiple visits. Then select:
    • View to see the visit summary.
    • Download to save a copy of the visit summary for your records.
    • Send to share a copy of your visit summary with a doctor (this is helpful if you see a doctor outside of Tufts Medicine and want to keep them informed of your care).

Once you've requested a copy of your medical record from your healthcare organization, you can download and view it. To do this, you should:

  • Go to My Record then Document Center and select Requested Records.
  • You'll see a list of all the records you have requested. Review the list and find the one you want to view and select Download
    • To save the file to your computer or phone, select Save and open it from your files.
    • To open the file to your computer or phone, select Open (if you do this, it will not be saved to your computer or phone).
    • If the record is password protected, a warning will be displayed, and you'll need to select Continue Download. If the record is password protected, select Show Password on the Requested Records page to find the password you need to access the document and enter it to view it.
  • Share your medical information, go to Sharing and then Share Everywhere.
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