City of Hope (Newnan) - Anyone else struggling to get complete medical records?
I was treated at City of Hope in Newnan for breast cancer starting in March of last year, and my experience with their administration and medical records department has been incredibly difficult. I’m reaching out to see if other patients in Georgia have faced similar issues or if this is a widespread pattern.
My Experience:
- Rushed Care: Every visit felt rushed. Doctors often weren't prepared with my results or next steps, yet I was continuously scheduled for new appointments and charged.
- Facility Transfer: After filing a formal complaint and asking for a new oncologist, it took them exactly 30 days to tell me they didn't have another doctor available. I had to transfer facilities in the middle of my treatment.
- Incomplete Records: I discovered my records were missing critical documents, including the oncotype report that dictates whether or not chemotherapy is beneficial for my specific case.
- Non-Compliance: I made a formal HIPAA request in February. They acknowledged it but failed to respond within the legal 30-day window. It was only after I sent a letter threatening to involve federal regulators that they sent a box of unstructured, printed papers—which is not the electronic format I requested.
I finally received a CD today, but the process has been an uphill battle. I am fortunate to have the resources to fight this, but it infuriates me to think of other patients who may be facing this while already dealing with the physical and mental toll of cancer.
Have you had a similar experience at City of Hope Newnan? Specifically regarding:
- Difficulty getting copies of your records?
- Records that were incomplete, missing reports, or not up-to-date?
- Delays that went past the legal 30-day response time?
I’d love to hear your story and how you handled it. Cancer is hard enough without having to battle your own care provider for basic information.