switching peds - what's incl. in your child's file sent over to new ped?

I just switched peds last week - had my dds' files sent over to the new practice and I was really surprised how LITTLE was actually copied!

My older dd has an extensive medical history - asthma issues, pnuemonia, food allergies, testing at Schnieders, etc but the only info copied was vaccine info, growth charts and the FA blood test info.

Anyone else recently switch peds and have their children's file sent over? I wonder what's the norm? Should it include test results and letters from other drs sent to my old ped?

I want to check around to make sure they shouldn't be sending over anything else Of course I asked about it with my old practice but got a big legal-CYA answer - so I want an opinion from OUTSIDE their group

Re: switching peds - what's incl. in your child's file sent over to new ped?

I don't know about peds, but when I switched OBs from CA to NY, not much went with me. Not even my weight (found out when we were comparing how much gained int he second pregnancy) They also didn't include the initial blood test results, BUT when test results came back to my CA OB after we moved, he called me and faxed the results to the NY OB since they were of concern.

Re: switching peds - what's incl. in your child's file sent over to new ped?

I switched pediatricians (not because I didn't love my original pediatricians.. but because the practice was always so busy that it became a little inconvenient). They copied EVERYTHING. I had copies of their notes from the hospital when the kids were born, all immunization records, every sick visit, every well visit, notes, develpmental records that included height/weight and milestones,copies of Rx's - EVERYTHING. And they copied them 2x - I still have a copy. They were great about it.

You should call and let them know that it seems as though some records may be missing. They may have given you only the ''important stuff" (immunization records) in order to avoid making you pay a copy fee.

Re: switching peds - what's incl. in your child's file sent over to new ped?

Thanks guys.

Jeannie - They did say copying more would be a charge, but I said it would be okay - I just wanted the info sent over. But when I asked specifically why XYZ wasn't copied, I started getting excuses like "we don't copy letters from other drs because 3rd parties could misconstrue the letter", etc I wondered if this was the norm when leaving a ped. Of course everyone wants to cover their own butts but at the same time, I don't want my dd's file to be practically EMPTY because of it.

Re: switching peds - what's incl. in your child's file sent over to new ped?

When we moved OOS my ped just sent over what your ped sent over. Then after 2 months I switched because I wasn't crazy with who I found and they sent the same thing. Same thing with my OBGYN.

Re: switching peds - what's incl. in your child's file sent over to new ped?

Teri, who did you end up switching to?

Re: switching peds - what's incl. in your child's file sent over to new ped?

They are supposed to copy everything - Drs notes, blood work, vaccinations etc. BUT the people who do the records sometimes don't send what they are supposed to - I find you often have to be very specific when you request the records to say notes, labs, vaccinations, tests and everything that is included in the file. It is important that the new dr gets the old dr's notes so that they know what you saw the dr for in the past etc. Labs and vaccinations alone aren't enough IMO.