Gannett Health Services
Ho Plaza
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-3101
Tel: 607 255-5155
Email: gannett@cornell.edu
Health records contain important information about an individual's health history. A record is started at Gannett for each student enrolled at Cornell (beginning with the student's "Health History Form") and for everyone else who gets health care at Gannett. Notes are made in your chart each time you receive services at Gannett to document the visit and provide a comprehensive "record" of your health care experiences, which is important for your care in the future.
Gannett is obligated to maintain this standard of care, established and guided by numerous federal and state laws. We understand the importance of protecting the privacy these records.
For detailed information describing how your confidentiality is protected, how your health information may be used, and how you can access your medical information, refer to Gannett’s Notice of Privacy Practices.
Because of the importance of health records to patients, clients, and providers, and the complexity of managing and protecting these records, the Health Records department is one of the most important departments in all of Gannett. Our staff has special training that enables them to handle hundreds of records every day and more than 100,000 records every year according to the strict regulations that guide how records are organized and provide the highest standards of protection.
Our Health Records department is charged with the additional responsibility of ensuring that all Cornell students comply with federal and state health requirements before they matriculate or as new requirements are imposed. We do our best to welcome new students and provide clear information and assistance, even as we play the role of "enforcer."
How long are my health records kept? |
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A. | For registered students, health records are kept six years after you depart from Cornell, or six years after your last Gannett visit, which ever is longer. For non-students, health records are kept for six years after your last visit. |
How do I request copies of my health records? |
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A. | A request for health records must be made in writing. Complete Gannett’s Authorization To Disclose Patient Health Information (pdf) available online or at the main desk on Level 3. We can also mail you a copy. When you have completed the Release, you can:
If you believe that it would be helpful for your health care provider or counselor or psychiatrist to talk with someone else about your health concerns or treatment, please discuss it with her or him. Together, you can decide what in particular might be helpful to share with whom and during what time frame and complete the form together. We will need your signed permission, using this Authorization for Release of Health Information. |
Do I have to pay for copies of my health records to be released? |
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A. | Copies of records sent directly to another health care provider for treatment are sent free of charge. Copies of immunizations are generally free. If you want copies of health records for other reasons, the charge is 75 cents per page. The reproduction cost for copies of radiology films is $5.00 per film. |
How long will it take for my records to be copied? |
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A. | Records will be mailed or ready for pick up as soon as possible, usually within 5 to 10 business days. |
Can health records be faxed? |
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A. | For your protection, it is our policy to fax health records only when they are needed for a patient care encounter and will not arrive in time for the visit if mailed. |
Emergencies
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