What should a hospital do if a request for a patient's health records includes records from a previous treatment facility?

When a request for a patient's health records is made, it is essential to consider what constitutes the designated record set as defined by regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA. The designated record set includes the medical records and billing records about an individual maintained by or for a covered entity, as well as other records used in making decisions about the individual.

Including previous hospital records in response to a request aligns with the idea that all relevant health information about the patient, regardless of where it was obtained, is part of their comprehensive medical history. It is crucial for continuity of care, as these records can provide valuable context for the patient’s current treatment and assist healthcare providers in making informed decisions.

Simply releasing only the current hospital's records would ignore part of the patient's medical history, potentially leading to gaps in understanding their health status. Releasing records only with patient consent could delay care and is not always required for records that are part of the designated record set. Excluding previous records on the basis of not being relevant does not consider the holistic view necessary for adequate patient care.

Thus, including previous hospital records is not only about compliance with regulations but also serves the overarching goal of promoting quality patient care through comprehensive access to a patient's health information across different treatment settings.