This may produce some discussion, but it is how we have done it for five years and have never had a complaint.
We never print the entire chart for three reasons:
1. I don't find the Chart Summary to be complete or all that helpful. Yes, it shows the meds and immunizations, but the Problem List, again, is not a Problem List, it is a list of diagnoses.
2. Does anyone have lab results show up on the lab sheet? I suppose you could choose not to print that one.
3. It contains the messages. We obviously keep and maintain the patient record for the legally designted time. This insures that we have the entire record including the messages. Messages are probably the most likely to help you medicolegally. But, we do not send the messages to the other provider. I guess one could argue we have to or should, but no matter how much we try to keep the message as professional as possible; feelings, frustrations and emotions creep into them, and I do not feel good about a patient reading them. If a provider asks for the messages, I will send them.
So, we choose Visit History, Progress Notes and print to a PDF, merge that with the shot summary and then merge them all with the other records. We then, as the others, either fax them from the computer or burn them to disk and mail them.
We also charge for all records for transfers to physician offices within the area. We, of course, do not charge for records for consultations.
