Health Information Management - Medical Records
Health Information Management (HIM), also known as the Medical Records Department, is charged with custodial responsibilities for your medical record. The record contains important medical information and the details supporting your health evaluation/assessments, diagnosis, treatments or other care you received. The record serves as a valuable communication tool between our facility and your personal physician(s) and supports any continuing care you may need or desire.
Photocopies of your medical records are available upon request from the Medical Records department at the hospital where you were a patient. Lee Health has four adult acute care hospitals, one chidren's hospital, and two specialty hospitals.
Office hours at all locations are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. To obtain copies of medical records see below for directions of how to request copies.
Obtaining Copies of Your Medical Records
Patient Request for Medical Records Online
Lee Health now offers a records request tool that verifies your identity by asking for a photo of your driver's license, which can be taken via webcam or smartphone. If you are a patient and do not want to send in a paper authorization form, select this option.
STAT requests should be faxed to one of the hospitals in the Office Locations section below.
Non-STAT hospital requests should be faxed to 239-343-4189.
Clinic/LPG requests should be faxed to 239-343-4188.
A completed authorization to release information form signed by you or by your legal guardian is required. You can get a release form while on the nursing unit, from the Medical Records Department or by clicking on the form below:
Instructions on Which Form To Use
Authorization for Release of Medical Record Information #1062 English
Authorization for Release of Medical Record Information #1062 Spanish
Patient Access Request For Medical Records #2487 English
Patient Access Request For Medical Records #2487 Spanish
Completely fill out the form, date and sign, and mail or fax to the Medical Records Department of the Lee Health hospital where you were a patient. Proper identification will be required to pick up the records.
Physicians on Lee Health Medical Staff automatically receive or can request copies of their patient charts.
| Produced\Requested Medium and Cost | ||
| Format of Original Patient Record | Cost for delivery in electronic format (CD/USB/download or portal): | Cost for record delivered in Paper |
| Electronic or Hybrid (part electronic part paper) |
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| Paper |
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Health Information Management Office Locations
Click on any of the hospital names below to see a map of their facility showing the locations of Health Information Management.
CAPE CORAL HOSPITAL
636 Del Prado Blvd.
Cape Coral, FL 33990
Phone: 239-424-1340
Fax: 239-343-4149
GULF COAST MEDICAL CENTER
13681 Doctor's Way
Fort Myers, FL 33912
Phone: 239-424-1340
Fax: 239-343-0216
HEALTHPARK MEDICAL CENTER
9981 S. HealthPark Dr.
Fort Myers, FL 33908
Phone: 239-424-1340
Fax: 239-343-4150
LEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
2776 Cleveland Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: 239-424-1340
Fax: 239-343-3898
Understanding Your Health Record / Information
Each time you visit a hospital, physician, or other health care provider, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnosis, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment. This information, which we refer to as your health or medical record, is an essential part of the health care we provide for you.
Your health record serves as a:
- Basis for planning your care and treatment.
- Means of communication among the many health professionals who contribute to your care.
- Legal document describing the care you received.
- Means by which you or a third-party payer can verify that services billed were actually provided.
- Tool in educating health professionals.
- Source of data for medical research.
- Source of information for public health officials charged with improving the health of the nation.
- Source of data for facility planning and marketing tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render and the outcomes we achieve.
Health Information: Privacy and Security
Five Tips to Protect Your Personal Health Information
Protecting health information is a top priority. The health information management professionals at Lee Health provide five tips for protecting your personal health information:
- Understand your information rights as a health care consumer. You have the right to view and receive copies of your medical information and the right to complain about medical privacy practices or breaches of privacy.
- Read the Statement of Privacy Notice that your health care provider and health plan are required to provide you at the time of service or upon request. Understand your rights, what types of information are maintained, and how each entity uses or handles it.
- Be aware that not all organizations or entities that collect and maintain your health information are covered by federal or state privacy laws.
- Obtain and maintain copies of your medical records and information so you can use the information to monitor your care and spot any errors in the information.
- Establish a personal health record (PHR) to monitor the accuracy of your health information. PHRs are an excellent way for you to play a leading role in your health care by tracking and monitoring your health status or that of family members in your care.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about the confidentiality of your health information.
Ensuring Health Information Integrity
HIM professionals are responsible for the collection, storage, coding, processing, analysis, interpretation, application, privacy, and sharing of information for a wide range of purposes in health care settings. Today, HIM professionals are increasingly performing these tasks using emerging technology and helping healthcare professionals access the information they need to support clinical decision-making, research financial management, and personal health management.
HI&T Week is sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA). For more information about the HIM profession, visit the AHIMA web site at www.ahima.org.