Martin,
Good thoughts. However, rarely does a patient come to our office and get the records standing in line. Even if they did, they certainly would not be allowed to hold up patient check ins. I would estimate that > 90% of all transfers are in the form of receiving a records release by fax from the new office.
Plus, the charge for a records transfer in Maine is $10.00 page one, and 35 cents for each page thereafter. This is $45.00 for a 100-page record. I, too, have come to the conclusion that the entire process is probably not worth it (although I evaluate it all the time). But, once again, the expectation that each doctor will send records as a courtesy for a patient who may have just been discourteous is there because we are just used to it and do it. Try calling an attorney who has accumulated 200 sheets of documents on you and asking them to be transferred to your new attorney. It won't be free.
