Medical Records

Get your accurate, complete and timely, and confidentially-protected health information.

Barton's Health Information Management Department (HIM) or Medical Records is responsible for the collection, processing, storage, maintenance, retrieval, security and confidentiality of all patients' medical records. HIM is responsible for assuring all clinical information of the patient is accessible to authorized healthcare providers and patients/families for collaboration and continuity of patient care.

Medical transcription is the act of translating from oral to written form (on paper or electronically) the record of the patient’s medical history, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and outcome. Physicians dictate patient’s health information into a state-of-the-art electronic dictation system and the transcriptionists type the dictated information into our health information system to promote continuity of patient care.

FAQs

How can I get copies of my medical records? Complete our Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information Form, sign and return via email to medicalrecords@bartonhealth.org or mail to: 

Barton Memorial Hospital
Attn: Medical Records/ HIM
PO Box 9578
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158

How much will it cost to get copies of my medical records? Patients' requests for own records are free of charge. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if we have to provide multiple copies of the same records for the same service.

How long will it take to get copies of my medical records? We are required by law to respond to written requests within 15 days of receiving the request and make every effort to meet that deadline. We will notify you in the instance we may have unforeseen circumstances where we may not meet the deadline.

How can my doctor get copies of my medical records? Your doctor can request copies of your health information at anytime, or you can fill out our Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information Form and we will forward them to your physician at no cost.

How long do you keep my medical records? Patient records must be retained for a minimum of ten years for adult patients and the records of unemancipated minors must be kept at least one year after reaching the age of 18 years (19). For Nevada minors, records must be retained to 23 years of age.

Contact Us

Download Forms:

MyChart Support

HIPAA

To report a privacy violation or concern, please call the Privacy Hotline: 530.543.5975.

  • HIPAA Privacy Officer:
    Barton Health, P.O. Box 9578, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158, 530.543.5975
  • HIPAA Security Officer:
    Barton Health, P.O. Box 9578, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158, infosec@bartonhealth.org

What is HIPAA?

HIPAA is designed to regulate the sharing of electronic patient information. A huge portion of healthcare dollars are currently spent on the process of determining eligibility and processing claims for payment, and one of HIPAA’s goals is to create national standards that can be used to expedite these processes and thus save money. Along with these goals, there is a realization that widespread dissemination of patient information in electronic format could create opportunities for inappropriate use of this information. Thus, HIPAA also includes strict provisions designed to protect confidential patient information in all its formats (electronic, paper and verbal).

As required under HIPAA's Privacy Standards, we provide each patient a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices, which outlines patients' rights regarding their health information and our commitment to protecting and ensuring its confidentiality. This Notice is provided to each patient upon the first date of service at Barton Health.