Gross McGinley LLP

The often daily request for copies of medical records can be daunting in a world governed by HIPAA, HITECH, and numerous state regulations. Attorneys Michael J. Blum and Sarah K. Hart recently spoke on this topic at the May meeting of the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM), Lehigh Valley Chapter. The presentation, entitled “Medical Records and HIPAA: What You Need to Know”, described the important role medical administrators play in managing HIPAA requirements, electronic medical records, and ensuring their staff is compliant with the law. The presentation provided guidance for medical administrators on the legalities of a medical releases including the challenges surrounding subpoenas, requests for minor records, custody/guardianship issues, Powers of Attorney, medical vs. mental health records, and more. Local PAHCOM members found it to be a great opportunity to learn how to handle these requests and learn about some real world examples of medical records gone wrong.

Both members of  Gross McGinley’s Medical Malpractice team, Michael and Sarah assist in defending hospitals and medical practices across Eastern Pennsylvania. Michael handles every aspect of complex medical malpractice litigation and has extensive experience with malpractice trials, mediations, and arbitrations. He frequently presents to medical professionals on risk avoidance issues including proper charting, legal aspects of pressure sores, and policy compliance. Sarah participates in depositions of witnesses and claimants and has experience compiling expert testimony and medical records. She is a former Assistant District Attorney in both Berks County and Lebanon County where she conducted numerous hearings, bench trials, and jury trials.