We can.  We do this by means of a process called digitizing.  This ability can greatly reduce the cost of obtaining films if the locations send us their originals.  This is also frequently useful in providing experts or other parties copies of films in your possession, avoiding large copying fees and shipping costs.  The digitized images can also be made available for viewing over the website.

We can.  Please keep in mind though that for medical records, Canada has a different set of standards as far as privacy requirements and they are allowed to charge a very large fee up front before providing records (almost $200.00 US).

We do.  After submitting the authorizations for signature we will follow up with them on a bi-weekly basis (unless it is a rush order or otherwise requested) and we will keep you informed as to their progress.  If no authorizations are received within 1 month of confirming their receipt by the releasing party we will notify you via e-mail.

We can and do.  We are authorized to, and frequently travel to Social Security offices to scan their records.  Contact us for a quote on the cost of doing so.

With the records open in the Adobe file, either press control and F or under the “edit” tab on the toolbar select “find”.  Then simply type in the word you are looking for and you can then move between it’s occurrences with the “previous” and “next” buttons.  While this feature works for a wide variety of text, please keep in mind it may not be able to read the doctor’s handwriting.

If you have placed an order via the forms tab on the website or after signing into the secure area of the website, you should receive an e-mailed confirmation within 24 hours of placing the order.  If there are any issues with locating a deponent it may slightly increase that time.  If you have placed an order via the fax, mail, or over the phone you would similarly receive an e-mailed confirmation within 24 hours of our receiving the order.  If you mailed it, please allow time for the US Postal Service to do their part.

While the majority of our record retrieval centers in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio, we frequently request from all the states in the Union and have requested records from foreign countries as well.

There is no price increase for rushing a request.  The only times there may be additional charges are when something is overnighted to or from us, or if we make a special trip to pick up, scan, or deliver records.

A “Custodian Fee” is the fee that the deponent is charging to release their records.  These fees vary greatly from none at all to very high charges.  Fees for medical records are generally specified by state legislature and we make sure these “custodian fees” are in line with these laws.  If the location refuses to comply with these laws you will be notified to see how you would like to proceed.

We pride ourselves on being able to locate them.  Just provide whatever information you do have.  If there are multiple possibilities, or if we are unable to track the doctor or facility down, we will try to obtain more information from the plaintiff’s attorney, and will let you know what we were able to find on your order confirmation.

Digitizing is a process by which films are electronically exposed and the image is stored in digital format.  These images can then be viewed electronically, placed on CDs, or uploaded to the website.  Please note that this process is different from obtaining a CD of films from locations that have their own image viewing software.  The difference lies mainly with MRIs, CTs, or other such films.  When these films are digitized the image is what you would see if the physical film were placed on a light box for viewing.  Some hospitals and radiology facilities are able to put the raw data onto CD which will allow contrast to be adjusted, the image to be enlarged, and with MRIs and CTs the viewer can move through each individual image as opposed to viewing a film with 12-15 images on it.

The IRS, Michigan Department of Treasury, and other government offices often require a specific form to be submitted.  Just as we cannot type up a letter to the IRS telling them our income information, a form is required to obtain information from them.  Typically IRS records require form 4906, Michigan requires form 4095.  These forms also show the fees required to obtain these records.  Currently the IRS charges $39 per year and can provide records from the previous tax year (after April 15) and 6 years prior.  Michigan currently charges $5 for the first year and $3 for each additional year.

The answer to that will depend on the authorization that was sent.  Frequently, for medical records, the authorization is either not HIPAA compliant, signed within the time frame required by the facility, or the location may require their own authorization signed.  Often they are unyielding in requiring their own authorization so instead of wasting time submitting the request and having it officially rejected (which may take as long as 6 weeks), we may send the locations authorization for signature right at the start.  Authorizations for most of these facilities in Michigan can be viewed and printed from the “forms” section of our website.

Most major hospitals require that separate requests be submitted to the different departments.  Example:  A request for “any and all medical records, billing records, and films” to a major hospital has to be divided into 3 requests to the three separate departments-  Health Information Management, Radiology, and the Billing department.  Many major hospitals have 2 billing departments, one for billing records generated by their physicians and one for those generated by the hospital itself.  Similarly if Pathology, and certain Cardiology records (EKGs, etc) are requested separate requests may also be necessary for those.